We need to talk about how absolutely unexpected in style this new Childish Gambino (Donald Glover) single is.

I know dude would name drop/sample indie-rock on his mixtapes, but, wow.

Farewell, MTV News

Andrew Liszewski, The Verge:

The archives of the MTV News website, which had remained accessible online after the unit was shut down last year by parent company Paramount Global, have now been completely taken offline. As Variety reported yesterday, both mtvnews.com and mtv.com/news now redirect visitors to the MTV website’s front page.

Truly sad, especially given that the upkeep of these archives must have been – at best – a rounding error for Viacom.

For Gen Z, Alpha, and those to come, it’s both going to be odd to explain that, “Yes, MTV once played music videos, and was not wall to wall Ridiculousness.”, but also: “When this intro played, you knew that shit was about to go down.”

Kurt Loder + Tabitha Soren forever.

A Must-Read Profile on Conan O'Brien

Jason Zinoman, The New York Times:

Since leaving late-night television in 2021, Conan O’Brien, 61, has become more reflective about life (and death), given to philosophical flights of fancy that he compulsively alternates with comic tangents. O’Brien famously champions the intersection between smart and stupid, but in conversation, what stands out is how quickly he moves between light and heavy. In one of several interviews, I asked him if he was happier now than when he was on television and his response was to question happiness itself. “At best it’s a fleeting moment after a rainstorm when the sun’s coming out,” he said. “Being contented comes in little moments, here and there.”

The only thing trickier than being a late-night talk show host is being a former one. Some relapse (Jon Stewart). A few vanish (Johnny Carson, Craig Kilborn). Most enter a more modest era (David Letterman, Jay Leno). Since he started writing for “Saturday Night Live” in the 1980s, Conan O’Brien has built one of the most consequential careers in comedy. And while his late-night tenure is beloved by comedy nerds, helping define a sensibility for a generation of comedians like Bill Hader, Eric André and Nikki Glaser, his postshow work may turn out to be more impressive.

Besides being an influence to me and my sense of humor, especially for whatever comedy “career” I’ve built for myself, it’s funny how much I found myself relating to Conan and how his brain works – the light and the dark.

Heck of a read.

People who drink Caffeine-Free, Diet Coke: Why? What are you getting out of it at that point?

Thank you, Baltimore Banner, for shouting out Super Art Fight as one of the Things to Do this weekend!

Why Nintendo Is Who Nintendo Is

Nathan Grayson, Aftermath:

Nintendo knows what works for it, and over the years it has stayed that course, at times to its own detriment. But when it works, it really works. The Switch has been a smash success, which has allowed Nintendo to stick to its guns even as it navigates an industry that’s doubling down on fewer, bigger games. It is notable that Nintendo hasn’t laid off hundreds or thousands of workers in the past couple years, nor has it jumped aboard the forever game bandwagon (unless Mario Kart 8 counts). I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that the former is a result of labor law as much as it is anything else, but there’s also a hopeful truth at the core of Nintendo’s approach: If you create something good and dependable, people will appreciate it. You don’t have to trick or trap them to build a successful business.

I mean…this is why Nintendo is able to do what it does so well. They play the long game. Sure, they’ve had their bumps and bruises (Wii-U, Virtual Boy), but this article – along with the latest Nintendo Direct – illuminates why they’ve been able to cut out a market for themselves and ultimately side-step the console wars.

It’s funny, I can sit here right now in 2024 and say that I will for sure be picking up a Switch 2 (or whatever its called), but I am already skeptical – without a game or acknowledgement of it existing! – about what a PlayStation 6 will bring. That is the confidence Nintendo has built.

After the Nintendo Direct, My Wishlist is FULL

After this morning’s Nintendo Direct, I’ve got about 10 new games I want to pick up.

I’d already wanted to check out Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, but, I also find myself excited for…

  • Mario & Luigi: Brothership
  • Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition
  • Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
  • Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake (along with the I & II remakes announced)
  • Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics (Though I may pick it up on PS4 instead)
  • Super Mario Party Jamboree
  • The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (Turns out, Zelda’s the girl.)
  • And, of course…Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, which I can’t help but feel like is the cross-generational game, a’la Breath of the Wild for the Wii-U/Switch transition.

For a system which just past its seventh birthday, that’s pretty amazing.

Turns Out: Gamers Get Old, Too.

Tonight’s Phillies / Orioles game has been one of the most incredible live sports viewing experiences of my life.

I wish I could’ve been there live!

The new RJD2 album, Visions Out Of Limelight, is good working music, if you’re looking for some on this Friday.

The Unofficial Ranking of Convenience Store / Gas Station Food

The announcement of a Sheetz location coming to my neck of the woods has realized I haven’t poked this bear in a bit.

So, what are your rankings of convenience store / gas station food?

Mind, I’ve not had Buc-ees, but my picks are…

  1. Sheetz - Awesome variety of food, usually prepared well, great drink menu.
  2. Wawa - If their menu were a bit more eclectic, I’d give them the nod, but even with the latest additions (pizza), it’s a lesser option than Sheetz.
  3. Royal Farms - The chicken is awesome. But that’s the thing: just the chicken is awesome.
  4. Highs - Their ice cream is decent? 🤷‍♂️
  5. 7-Eleven - Trash. Every now and then a taquito hits a spot, but for the most part, not worth the time or money.

What say you? This, of course, is with the asterisk of Japanese Convenience Stores being far far better than anything US ones have produced.

Heck yes. LEGO has revealed a Transformers Bumblebee set which – like the Optimus Prime before him – can transform. 950 pieces, $90. Hits LEGO.com on July 1.

Sony Pictures has purchased Alamo Drafthouse. Wow. Gonna have to think on this one. May write more later.

#FastFoodArmsRace: It's The 2024 State Fair Food Season!

Wisconsin State Fair:

For 10 years, The Sporkies have encouraged our State Fair vendors to create next-level foods… and drinks worthy of mouth-watering Instagram pics. The Drinkies, State Fair’s non-alcoholic beverage competition! This sip-tacular competition will refresh the drink options at the State Fair for all ages.

Once again, we have ourselves the annual listing / competition for the most bizarre, insane, intense and absolutely ridiculous fair food.

Among the, uh, highlights (?) this year…

  • Loaded Baked Potato Churro
  • Elvis Nachos
  • Cool Ranch Doritios Pickle
  • Deep Fried Lemonade Bites

You can view the full breakdown of entries for The Sporkies here.

What a world.

Hell in a Spreadsheet Cell

David Pierce, The Verge:

But I’d wager that if you wanted to see the most exciting drama happening at the MGM on this Friday night, you’d have to walk through the casino and look for the small sign advertising something called The Active Cell. This is the site of the play-in round for the Excel World Championship, and it starts in five minutes. There are 27 people here to take part in this event (28 registered, but one evidently chickened out before we started), which will send its top eight finishers to tomorrow night’s finals. There, one person will be crowned the Excel World Champion, which comes with a trophy and a championship belt and the ability to spend the next 12 months bragging about being officially the world’s best spreadsheeter. Eight people have already qualified for the finals; some of today’s 27 contestants lost in those qualifying rounds, others just showed up last-minute in hopes of a comeback.

I did not expect to be enthralled by a write up about a spreadsheet writing competition. Yet, here I am.

I very much recommend clicking through if just to see the awesome visual style that The Verge’s team applied to the article. Nice touch, and helps make the site feel like a magazine.

What a lame move from NBC. Live bands are an intrinsic part of the late night experience, as much as cue cards or monologues. This absolutely sucks.

Fellow DMV Area Millenials Get Excited: The HFStival is Back!

Alex Young, Consequence:

HFStival, the long-dormant, yet supremely iconic Washington, DC-based alt-rock music festival, looks to be making a comeback in 2024.

Today, the social media accounts for both the 9:30 Club and Nationals Park in Washington, DC indicated the festival would return on Saturday, September 21st, 2024, at Nationals Park.

The flashback vibes, they are strong.

For those not from the DMV region, WHFS was an incredibly important alternative rock station, who held an annual event, called the HFStival. Tens of thousands of teenagers/early 20’s folk would descend upon an area stadium, and enjoy the bands of the day. Famous alums include Rage Against the Machine, Eminem, Red Hot Chili Peppers, but also made sure to spotlight area bands.

In 2010 and 2011, these were run again as a nostalgia play, but today, we’re getting a possible return.

My hope is that it focuses on what alt is in 2024 – even with a throwback headliner or two – and maybe, just maybe, has a path to return of the station?

The Computers, They Make Their Own Apps Now

Kyle Wiggers, TechCrunch:

Wix, the platform known chiefly for its web design tools, is launching a generative AI feature that’ll let customers create and edit iOS or Android apps by describing what they want to see in plain English.

The capability, which is set to arrive in Wix’s app builder tool this week, guides users through a chatbot-like interface to understand the goals, intent and aesthetic of their app. With this info, Wix’s AI generates an app that can be customized from the app editor, and then optionally embellished with first- and third-party integrations, widgets and connectors.

What could possibly go wrong?

F’s in the chat for the App Store Review team.

yeah, The Acolyte is damn fine watching. About time they started exploring the High Republic era.

ALIEN: ROMULUS Looks Creepy and AWESOME

20th Century Studios/YouTube:

“Alien: Romulus” takes the phenomenally successful “Alien” franchise back to its roots: While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe. The film stars Cailee Spaeny (“Civil War”), David Jonsson (“Agatha Christie’s Murder is Easy”), Archie Renaux (“Shadow and Bone”), Isabela Merced (“The Last of Us”), Spike Fearn (“Aftersun”), Aileen Wu. Fede Alvarez (“Evil Dead,” “Don’t Breathe”) directs from a screenplay he wrote with frequent collaborator Rodo Sayagues (“Don’t Breathe 2”) based on characters created by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett. “Alien: Romulus” is produced by Ridley Scott (“Napoleon”), who directed the original “Alien” and produced and directed the series’ entries “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant,” Michael Pruss (“Boston Strangler”), and Walter Hill (“Alien”), with Fede Alvarez, Elizabeth Cantillon (“Charlie’s Angels”), Brent O’Connor (“Bullet Train”), and Tom Moran (“Unstoppable”) serving as executive producers.

This looks big, and loud, and scary, and exciting, and dark, and gorgeous and basically everything-I-have-wanted-in-an-Alien-movie-for-years.

Hard to believe this was originally set for Hulu, right?

I will be there, August 16th.

VENOM: THE LAST DANCE Gets Its First Trailer

Sony Pictures on YouTube:

Till death do they part. Tom Hardy returns in Venom: The Last Dance – coming exclusively to theaters this October.

In Venom: The Last Dance, Tom Hardy returns as Venom, one of Marvel’s greatest and most complex characters, for the final film in the trilogy. Eddie and Venom are on the run. Hunted by both of their worlds and with the net closing in, the duo are forced into a devastating decision that will bring the curtains down on Venom and Eddie’s last dance.

Venom: The Last Dance stars Tom Hardy, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifans, Peggy Lu, Alanna Ubach and Stephen Graham. The film is directed by Kelly Marcel from a screenplay she wrote, based on a story by Hardy and Marcel. The film is produced by Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach, Amy Pascal, Kelly Marcel, Tom Hardy and Hutch Parker.

Looks absolutely ridiculous.

Dance sequences, giant CG monsters, and crucially, VENOM HORSE. Sign me up for the next version of whatever goofiness Tom Hardy has put together here.

Oh boy! I am definitely making time to listen to Blank Check with David and Griffin today. https://overcast.fm/+FnAgZfDLI

FINALLY Godzilla Minus One is up on VOD!

Seems to be rolling out on Netflix worldwide, as well (not yet in the States), so…WATCH THIS MOVIE. ITS SO GOOD.

Got into the beta for the new version of Reeder for iOS. Interesting idea, focusing on NOT being completionist with the feeds you follow, and acting as a hub for RSS, Podcasts, YouTube, etc.

Not sure if it would replace standard Reeder for me, and I’m also intrigued to see how Iconfactory approaches a similar idea with their Project Tapestry.

As a former marketing technology specialist, today’s massive Google leak is unreal. Whole orgs and careers had been built around the oblique nature of SEO, and having real answers is wild.

LEGO has announced their first official The Legend of Zelda set, for release this September. Features the Deku Tree and minifigures of three versions of Link, along with the Breath of the Wild Zelda. Looks great, but is a pricey $300.

How old am I? I am “Takes-A-Moment-to-Admire-His-Parking-Job” Years Old, apparently.

Note to self: Use your AirPods Max more while watching movies at night, solo.

I’ve got a new tech related pet peeve. TheTakeout.com was acquired by Looper.com. Looper updated The Takeout’s RSS feed to supply everything from The Takeout AND Looper. What a mess.

For my toy nerds: Is it just me, or is it kind of weird that Mattel never worked out licensing for a series of die-cast Mad Max vehicles? My desk longs for a War Rig.

It’s been WAY TOO LONG for the DoJ to finally move against Ticketmaster, but I’m glad something is finally being done.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga tonight. To say I am excited would be an understatement. Trying to remind myself that Mad Max: Fury Road was a once-in-a-lifetime film, and to not expect lightning striking twice.

"The Munsters, but grim." I have zero skin in the Munsters fandom game, but…when are we going to do more of the “[License] but uplifting” or “[License] but comedic.” reboots?

The world of video game journalism just got a lot smaller. I have to imagine IGN won’t be keeping these sites alive for too long.

Inaugural comic read on my new iPad: The first collection of the new Transformers series by Daniel Warren Johnson (Do A Powerbomb!)

Writing a thing. Posting this screenshot to hold me accountable for posting it.

Work from home day? Nice. Work from home day when your new iPad comes in? Even better.

The Stop Making Sense tribute album from A24, Everyone’s Getting Involved hit today. Not all of the covers work for me, but those that do – Paramore’s “Burning Down the House”, The Linda Linda’s “Found a Job” – absolutely make the project worthwhile.

#FastFoodArmsRace: I don’t know what the hell Grandma flavor is, and now you’re confused by it too. Way to go, McDonald’s!

On Why AI Searches Really Bug Me

David Pierce, The Verge:

A year ago, Google said that it believed AI was the future of search. That future is apparently here: Google is starting to roll out “AI Overviews,” previously known as the Search Generative Experience, or SGE, to users in the US and soon around the world. Pretty soon, billions of Google users will see an AI-generated summary at the top of many of their search results. And that’s only the beginning of how AI is changing search.

And from a few months back…

David Pierce, The Verge:

A few minutes ago, I opened the new Arc Search app and typed, “What happened in the Chiefs game?” That game, the AFC Championship, had just wrapped up. Normally, I’d Google it, click on a few links, and read about the game that way. But in Arc Search, I typed the query and tapped the “Browse for me” button instead.

Arc Search, the new iOS app from The Browser Company, which has been working on a browser called Arc for the last few years, went to work. It scoured the web — reading six pages, it told me, from Twitter to The Guardian to USA Today — and returned a bunch of information a few seconds later. I got the headline: Chiefs win. I got the final score, the key play, a “notable event” that also just said the Chiefs won, a note about Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift, a bunch of related links, and some more bullet points about the game.

I think I finally put a finger on what bothers me so much about the push for AI based searches.

It reduces the entire web to an answer. Yes, many times, we want to learn one detail, but by searching for it, we may learn additional data points, find the writing of a writer we admire, or end up down an entirely different rabbit hole, which leads to discoveries of its own.

Tools like Arc Search and where Google is heading (to where web searches are going to be a toggle) essentially boil down hundreds if not millions of results – and the effort behind those results – to a pithy blurb.

It’s very similar to how we’ve reduced movies and TV to content, and our attention spans from being able to watch full movies to barely making it through an entire TikTok.

Don’t get me wrong, I am a part of, responsible for, and facing those same struggles with my admiration of and attention to the work of others…but goddamnit, we’re more than a blurb. We’re more than an answer. We’re more than a tweet. We’re more than a Reel. More than a TikTok.

And its time we start showing the web that.

In continued Bands-Marty-Likes-Are-Dropping-New-Albums news - Nada Surf’s got Moon Mirror coming out on September 13 and And So I Watch You From Afar is back in August with Megafauna. A good year for music, indeed.

Los Campesinos! have announced their next album to release this July, All Hell. The first single, “Feast of Tongues” is up, and it’s definitely a progression from the sound of Sick Scenes.

I am very excited for this one.

Hard Drive, like it’s mother publication The Hard Times, always feels a bit like its narrowcasting right to me.

Today’s example: “Console Startup Sounds Ranked by How Well They Cure My Depression

Seems I’ve been sleeping on the current Joshua Williamson / Jamal Campbell Superman run. Checked out Vol. 1 tonight, and it’s absolutely fantastic. Wow.

After 20 years of fandom…I’m very excited to say, I’ll be seeing The Go! Team LIVE this November!

2024's Famicase Showcase is as Awesome as Always

Luke Plunkett, Aftermath:

For those who know what this is, stop reading and enjoy! For those who don’t know what Famicase is, every year the indie Japanese games store Meteor holds an exhibition where artists from all over the world submit fake Famicom cartridges featuring game ideas that can be cool, interesting, funny, macabre, whatever! Maybe all of those things! Note that these games aren’t real, and you can’t play them; they’re just jokes/pitches/ideas.

There are actual cartridges hanging on the wall in the store if you’re lucky enough to be able to visit in person, but since most of us can’t, the best we can do is admire them from afar courtesy of Meteor’s online showcase. You can view them all there, and definitely should, but for now I’d also just like to highlight some of my favourites…

Truly, I always enjoy seeing these every year, and it’s because of Luke Plunkett that I’ve been reminded of them each time. Thanks for keeping the legacy alive, Luke!

How is there not a US version of this using NES cartridges?

Check out the full gallery here. I’ve attached my personal favorite: PermaChroma, by Joe Wright.

Trying to get tickets to (finally!) see The Go! Team live, when they tour the US in November. On sale is 10am. Wish me luck.

'What Is The Point of Xbox?'

Chris Tapsel, Eurogamer:

If it weren’t for the people involved, in 2024, these closures would almost feel routine. This is far from the end of Xbox, of course - in Los Angeles next month, it’ll hold yet another make-or-break press conference, that maps out yet another plan for rescuing a lost generation. But be it through exasperation or exhaustion - or the wider industry’s sheer, pent-up rage - this feels like something of a nadir. Xbox has spun its wheels for more than a decade, lurching from U-turn to U-turn, strategic reboot to strategic reboot, acquisition to acquisition, closure to closure. The good times have always felt just over the horizon. Project Scorpio will set the tone; Game Pass is the future; the Series X will have the games; Starfield will jump-start Game Pass now it’s stalled. The growing sentiment today is that they’ll probably never come.

The immediate response is, justifiably, anger. Closing studios always feels villainous, but closing award-winning ones, ones with eminent talent, creativity and expertise, feels genuinely absurd - just as it did with Take-Two and the wonderful people of Roll7 and Kerbal Space Program developer Squad, only last week. But with Microsoft and Xbox, the problem feels part of something bigger. Trace a line through the modern history of Xbox - from the end of the 360 era, through the lost years of the Xbox One, to the present day - and a scarlet thread becomes clear. This is a platform holder that has lost its purpose and direction, that fundamentally - and perhaps inevitably, given the sheer vastness of its parent company - misunderstands why it exists.

The video games journalism world is whirlwind dunking on Microsoft in a way I’ve not seen since…last weekend, when Kendrick absolutely wiped the floor with Drake.

Brutal headline, too.

Batman: Caped Crusader will finally be hitting Amazon on August 1st. EW’s got a First Look. I’m sure the internet will be normal about the changes to Harley Quinn.

We're Getting Another LORD OF THE RINGS Movie I Guess

Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter:

Warner Bros. has made it official: It will be returning to Middle Earth.

On Warner Bros. Discovery’s first-quarter earnings conference call on Thursday, CEO David Zaslav said that the company is “now in the early stages of script development” for new Lord of the Rings movies, which he says they “anticipate releasing in 2026” and will “explore storylines yet to be told.”

Zaslav says that director Peter Jackson and his longtime writing partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens “will be involved every step of the way.”

Random news drop this morning, but its not one that should be super surprising, given that Zaslav has pushed so hard the use of WB’s existing franchises since he took over the head role there.

Thankfully, this doesn’t appear to be a remake of the trilogy, but something else in the Tolkien world. Knowing that Jackson and Boyens are involved is somewhat of a relief, but I don’t know what meat there is on the bone here.

For those who may be going, “2026? Without a script? That’s fast!” Sadly, this is the route of Hollywood now. Set the release date and work backwards. And it’s not like Peter Jackson is new to this, he infamously “winged it” during the production of the Hobbit trilogy.

Aside: Did you know there’s a CG Lord of the Rings movie that’s supposed to be hitting theaters this Holiday? Yeah. Really. For real.

EDIT: Update from Variety. Quoting a press release, the movie will be The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, and it will both star – and be directed by – Andy Serkis. Huh.

RIP Steve Albini. What an absolute legend.

When You Say You Get It, But You Clearly Don't

Grace Dean, Insider:

Many consumers are thinking carefully about how they spend every dollar, with some cutting back on visits to quick-service restaurants, as executives told investors on a series of earnings calls last week. To win penny-pinching customers back, some say they’re planning smaller price increases for the rest of the year.

Several fast-food chains described a gloomy outlook. The chief financial officer of Wendy’s, Gunther Plosch, told investors on Thursday that consumers were “still under pressure” — especially those with household incomes under $75,000. “They are reducing frequency, so visitation is down,” he said.

Chains raised prices drastically during the pandemic to offset rising labor and food costs, and it’s coming back to bite them. Some diners are cutting back, saying fast food is too expensive and no longer represents good value.

OK, so…the headline of this article is…

Fast-food chains are getting the message about soaring prices

And one of the first statements is…

To win penny-pinching customers back, some say they’re planning smaller price increases for the rest of the year.

So your plan to win back customers who dislike how high prices have become is to…

…continue to raise prices.

More slowly, but still. Raise.

Are we all that dumb? Number cannot forever go up. Number can drop. Number can stay maybe. But Number does not always go up.

Lower your prices, provide a better experience for employees and customers alike, and people will flock to your restaurants.

“Oh, our profits aren’t high enough!”, you’ll cry. But profits you’ll still have. And in this economy, that is your win.

I swear I’m going to avoid being super political, as we’ve got a long road to November but…

…our third best option is someone who had PART OF THEIR BRAIN EATEN?!!

Had a change of heart! Originally had an 11-inch iPad Pro and new Pencil ordered as of last night. Thought more about it…for what I use my iPad for, the new Air really is a leg up and more accurate to my use. So…cancelled and ordered the Air! Feeling pretty good about this.

Today has been new iPad announcement day, and while you’ll find much better recaps + details elsewhere, I’ll just say for me…

  • Not sure if I should go Pro or Air (I’m looking to replace my 2020 Pro)
  • Def gonna grab the pencil, think I will wait on the keyboard.

Now to get a trade-in estimate.

Ugh, more video game industry cuts, this time at Microsoft. I get – due to the failures of Redfall – Arkane, but Tango Gameworks?! Hi-Fi Rush was one of the most unique games in years, and a hell of a time to play. This sucks.

Nintendo has finally officially confirmed what anyone with a pulse knew: the successor to the Switch will be announced within the next year.

Here We Go, The First Look at James Gunn's SUPERMAN

James Gunn on Threads:

Get ready. Superman 7.11.25 @dcofficial … The above photo was taken on set by Jess Miglio and was entirely in-camera.

Here we go, folks. After what feels like ages of hype and excitement, the first fruit of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Comics movie universe has been revealed, as we get a look at David Corenswet (The Politician) as Kal-El/Clark/Superman.

I’ve attached the image to this post, and I have to say: I really like the vibe here.

After what feels like ages of Hollywood looking at Superman and having only the creatively bankrupt idea of “What If Superman was…evil?!” as if it were a new, original thought, to see a more…mundane version of Superman is kind of wild.

You can practically hear the sigh, as he remembers that his job isn’t done, he’s gotta go back to work, pull on the boots, and face down evil and terror once again.

It’s humanizing, something that is so easily forgotten about who Superman is as a character.

Given that James Gunn made a world care about a talking raccoon and a tree, I feel like that his version of the Last Son of Krypton will speak to us all. Finally.

Superman hits theaters on July 11, 2025.

If the new Justice album was out in the late 90’s, you KNOW every PS1 racing game would license a song from it.

To celebrate today’s unofficial “holiday”, Lucasfilm has released a new trailer for The Acolyte, which premieres in June. It looks good as hell, and thankfully: different.

Fun new Apple ad in time for tomorrow’s Star Wars Day.

Sure, it’s an ad for their Find My feature (with the precision locating found only on iPhone 15), but I thought it did a good job of capturing the mundane process of finding your pals at a convention.

My iTunes copy of Ocean’s Eleven got upgraded to 4K, so I’ve got that on in the background while I work from home. I could – and have – watched this movie a million times over.

Oh boy! Ted Leo has chosen this Bandcamp Friday to release the demos for his 2003 classic, Shake the Sheets.

A Goddamn Great Godzilla Minus One Poster From Bottleneck Gallery

Germain Lussier, Gizmodo:

io9 is honored to exclusively debut a brand new poster for Godzilla Minus One by Phantom City Creative. Released by Bottleneck Gallery and Ish, it’ll go on sale Friday, May 3 at noon ET at this site. Capturing Godzilla in a cloud of fire, the poster comes in three different editions, all 24 x 36 inch screenprints.

Godzilla Minus One was one of my favorites of 2023, and this poster is absolutely stunning. I’ve featured the black-and-white variant in my post here, and if you want to see all three versions, head to the source link above.

Should you be interested, hit this link on Friday, May 3, 2024 at Noon Eastern.

Another Round of Gaming Layoffs Which Underlines the Horrible State of Things

Luke Plunkett, Aftermath:

Remember how in February publisher Take-Two–who, thanks to Grand Theft Auto, have more money than you or I could ever conceive–had no current layoff plans, then two months later went out and laid off 600 people? We’ve learned today via Bloomberg that among those 600 people are everyone at two of the company’s studios: Intercept Games (Kerbal Space Program 2) and Roll7, which are both being closed.

While it’s still unclear what the future will hold for Kerbal Space Program 2–a game that hasn’t had the best time since launching last year, but will apparently still be receiving “updates”–I had a particular fondness for Roll7, a studio that was only bought by Take-Two in 2021! It had been around in some form since 2008, and in that time had developed a ton of very cool video games, from the side-scrolling skateboarding series OlliOlli to rollerskate murder simulator Rollerdrome to the much-expanded OlliOlli World.

This absolutely sucks. The OlliOlli games – along with Rollerdrome – are some of the most fun, polished, unique and engaging experiences I’ve had in gaming over the last few years, and now, because they were acquired just 3 years ago, and Number Must Go Up, this talent team is being gutted, drawn and quartered.

Going beyond official recognition, I also honestly believe the OlliOlli titles are some of the best skateboarding games ever made, and that the studio should be applauded for the work they put into making their games look amazing as well; Roll7 games had such a unique and vibrant style that in a previous life I wrote art features on both OlliOlli World and Rollerdrome in the same year.

But now two entire studios are toast, all because a company with revenue in the billions woke up one day and decided it didn’t need to keep them around anymore. And why would they, when all they really care about is shaking people down for spare change every second minute they’re playing Grand Theft Auto Online or NBA 2K.

And that’s the point. What’s the line in Mad Max: Fury Road? “Do not, my friends become addicted to water, it will take hold of you and you will resent its absence.”

These super studios are so massive, and so dependent upon the recurring DLC revenue of live service games and its ilk, that they’re cutting themselves down to just those sorts of titles. Much like the drum I keep beating about movies, we’re fast approaching in gaming the place that the movie industry has arrived in: you get two games now – the massive AAA blockbusters like Grand Theft Auto VI or Assassin’s Creed: This Years Location and Era or the stunning, quirky indie successes, like Vampire Survivors or Balatro.

The last two weeks, I’ve found myself immersed in the gaming of the 90’s and 00’s, thanks to Delta on my phone and the Miyoo Mini+ I just got in the mail. You know what’s great about those games? They’re simple. The gameplay is the focus. You don’t need to buy DLC. The experience is contained.

I may be Old Man Yelling At Cloud here, but game studios – seriously – lower the production values, up the actual value for the customer. There’s a reason why so many years on, the Nintendo Switch was outselling the new gen systems.

In the meantime: I hope the Roll7 team lands as well as they can, and should they decide to re-form and start a Kickstarter for their next project, I’m there Day One.

Back on my game console tinkering BS.

Let Us Play Every Video Game on Easy

I have to say, I’m really happy with the state of my website. It’s lightweight, contains all of my posts (longer and shorter), and cross-posts where I want it to cross-post to.

Owning your own part of the web really is key, gang.

I did not realize that Godspeed You! Black Emperor had been playing new songs on their current tour. There’s a playlist on YouTube with really great bootlegs of all three of them. New album soon, I hope.

The new owners of The Onion are being hilariously aggressive and I love it. (And it’s the entire homepage right now.)

If you’ve got $1200 and a crippling toy robot addiction, the new Self-Transforming Megatron is for you!

While I’m sure most will be drooling at the Artemis Space Launch System set from today’s LEGO announcements, I’m most intrigued and enthused about the Milky Way art set. SO cool.

Great Polygon interview with writer Ram V regarding his current Dark Horse series, Dawnrunner. I read issue one and adored it – a great concept met with incredible art from Evan Cagle - and I cannot wait for the trade!

“Uh, sir, you might get people turning against you for the TikTok ban.” “Time to fuck with the airlines.”

I swear, I’m not trying to be Old Man Who Yells At Cloud, but this whole TikTok thing just underlines that if you are running a business online, you need a direct voice to your customers which you own. Mailing list, your own site, all of it.

The Crumminess of Google Search Falls to the Hands of One Man

Edward Zitron, Where’s Your Ed At?:

This is the story of how Google Search died, and the people responsible for killing it.

The story begins on February 5th 2019, when Ben Gomes, Google’s head of search, had a problem. Jerry Dischler, then the VP and General Manager of Ads at Google, and Shiv Venkataraman, then the VP of Engineering, Search and Ads on Google properties, had called a “code yellow” for search revenue due to, and I quote, “steady weakness in the daily numbers” and a likeliness that it would end the quarter significantly behind.

A blistering read from Ed Zitron breaking down the managerial changes and overall focus on profits before people which has – perhaps irreparably – ruined Google search.

I feel like the term “enshittification” has become an overused shorthand for “thing I don’t like”, but this is the term at its purist. A focus on Fuck Yours, Got Mine on a massive level, which trickles down across the web as a whole.

A reckoning is coming, of this, I am sure.

I’ve discovered World Chase Tag, and I’m sorry, I think I’m going to make this my personality moving forward.

The announcement graphic for next month’s Apple (presumed) iPad Event is really well done. Kudos to the illustrator.

Of COURSE, an AI Bot Has Been Developed to Game Reddit Comments for Marketing Purposes

Jason Koebler, 404 Media

For years, people who have found Google search frustrating have been adding “Reddit” to the end of their search queries. This practice is so common that Google even acknowledged the phenomenon in a post announcing that it will be scraping Reddit posts to train its AI. And so, naturally, there are now services that will poison Reddit threads with AI-generated posts designed to promote products.

A service called ReplyGuy advertises itself as “the AI that plugs your product on Reddit” and which automatically “mentions your product in conversations naturally.” Examples on the site show two different Redditors being controlled by AI posting plugs for a text-to-voice product called “AnySpeech” and a bot writing a long comment about a debt consolidation program called Debt Freedom Now.

This here is why we cannot have nice things.

That said: the name of the tool being “Reply Guy”? Honestly, no notes. What a perfect assessment of this internet ruining tool.

Anyone else really love the recent “Add-to-Dock” functionality for making websites sandboxed “apps”? They’re great for streaming services.

DEAPOOL & WOLVERINE Trailer 2 Drops

Watch the new trailer for Marvel Studios’ #DeadpoolAndWolverine. Only in theaters July 26.

The “For You” section of Threads is the most baiting, triggering horseshit. So glad I can just follow those I care about over there through Mastodon.

…provided that they’ve turned on federation…

They say kill the part of you which is cringe, and to just be you, right?

Here goes: The first two Coldplay albums are good and might be what Radiohead would’ve been if they were more commercial.

I align with Elizabeth Warren on many things, but she is way too far out of her element when it comes to discussing Apple / iMessage. We really need more of the tech generation in office.

Deb JJ Lee Delivers a Surreal and Gorgeous DUNE Poster for Mutant

Germain Lussier, Gizmodo/io9:

The best art inspires more incredible art and Denis Villeneuve’s Dune films have certainly done that. In addition to the artistry in the films themselves, graphic designers from all over the world have been moved to create gorgeous Dune posters—and the latest may be the most unique, and quite possibly the best, one yet.

Korean American artist Deb JJ Lee has created just a sumptuous, stunning poster for Dune: Part One, which is being released Friday April 19 by the team at Mutant. It’s their first collaboration together and, after seeing this full image, you have to imagine it won’t be their last. io9 is honored to exclusively debut your first look at Deb JJ Lee’s Dune: Part One from Mutant.

Goddamn, what a print. You can click through the source link to view the variant.

It’s been a while since I’ve had a print I was enthused about, and having the ex-Mondo crew deliver here shines all the stronger for it.

Granted, I don’t have the wall space, but I have the enthusiasm.

If you have the wall space, along with the cash ($75 for the standard, $100 for the variant), head to MadeByMutant.com tomorrow, April 19, 2024 at 1pm Eastern to pick one up. And I’ll be keeping an eye on Deb JJ Lee moving forward.

Go Back to the Beginning in the New TRANSFORMERS ONE Trailer

Paramount Pictures on YouTube:

Every Transformer has an origin. Watch the new trailer for #TransformersOne - only in theatres September 20.

TRANSFORMERS ONE is the untold origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, better known as sworn enemies, but once were friends bonded like brothers who changed the fate of Cybertron forever. In the first-ever fully CG-animated Transformers movie, TRANSFORMERS ONE features a star-studded voice cast, including Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi with Laurence Fishburne and Jon Hamm.

I’m not sure what I expected from a CG animated Transformers movie, but I definitely don’t think it was this.

It might just work? Either way, I’ve landed on intrigued. Of note, it’s the director of Toy Story 4 behind this, so the pedigree is strong.

Glen Powell Is Your HIT MAN for Netflix This June

Netflix on YouTube:

Inspired by the unbelievable true story, a strait-laced professor (Glen Powell) uncovers his hidden talent as a fake hit man in undercover police stings. He meets his match in a client (Adria Arjona) who steals his heart and ignites a powder keg of deception, delight, and mixed-up identities.

From Academy Award-nominated writer/director Richard Linklater and co-written by Glen Powell, HIT MAN comes to select theaters in May and only on Netflix June 7.

Oh boy, this looks like a great time.

Get ready for maximum Glen Powell this Summer, by the way, with this and Twisters hitting over the warm months.

Quentin Tarantino's THE MOVIE CRITIC Has Been Scrapped

iOS folks – the Delta emulator is FINALLY available on the App Store. I cannot wait to dig into this when I get home.

Edit: More of a write up on it is available now at The Verge.

The Tech Review Discourse, And What Its Really About

Riley MacLeod, Aftermath:

This, I think, is what’s actually pissing the AI people off about Brownlee’s Humane review. He is clear that he has no fealty to them or their stock prices (“I literally don’t care what the stock price is of any company, of any product I review,” he says.) He even says in his video that “my reviews are technically not for” these products’ makers, which must be infuriating to our new Gilded Age robber barons who need constant reassurances of their genius. Because Brownlee isn’t in the business of promoting them or even talking to them, he’s not required to tout AI’s potential.

If you’ve missed The Discourse™ about MKBHD’s review of the Humane AI pin, Congrats! You’re not Extremely Online. But for those who do have a stake in the conversation, I think MacLeod’s piece I’ve linked above does a great job of summarizing both the situation and my personal beliefs on it.

I’ve expressed privately my confusion of the number of companies which grew to massive size not on the work they’ve delivered or the contributions they have made to our day-to-day lives, but more on the potential of doing so.

These reviews – and more specifically, the pearl-clutching of those who are insulted by reviewers, well, reviewing work – are the beginning (in my opinion) of a much needed reckoning.

Potential means nothing. Actions and reality are everything. I’m sorry that it took interest rates changing for a slue of folks to realize this, but you’re only worth what you actually do.

Read the reviews for Guy Richie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, and there are a lot of comparisons to his The Man from UNCLE remake, which pretty much means: I’m gonna love it.

Not that I disliked my prior car (Toyota CH-R), but I actively get excited about driving my new car. Dang hybrid has some zip in it!

Follow up to my post about how Disney+ should have “channels”…per a paywalled post at The Information, they’re in progress and should launch soon. You’re welcome, Bob.

As I read posts about the increasing costs of game development, and that being used as justification for DLC, predatory pay-to-win models, etc.

What about making cheaper, less bleeding-edge games? I’d be fine with a 1080p game that’s super fun to play versus a 4K title with all the monetization.

Got a new car today. It has Wireless CarPlay. As a long time tech nerd, I can say wholeheartedly: it’s dark magic and I know not the horrors which allow it to work.

Shout out Apple TV+’s Friday Night Baseball for letting you swap to the local radio audio.

Now that Hulu and Disney+ are integrated, there’s even less excuse for them to not have a series of live channels a’la PlutoTV or Peacock.

24/7 Marvel, 24/7 Star Wars, 24/7 Classics, or a channel that is just The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers, King of the Hill, etc.

The Fallout TV series has been out for just under 12 hours. It takes roughly 8 hours to watch. The “Fallout Ending Explained!” stories are already published. What are we even doing here?

The Humane AI Pin is bad, actually

David Pierce, The Verge:

That raises the second question: should you buy this thing? That one’s easy. Nope. Nuh-uh. No way. The AI Pin is an interesting idea that is so thoroughly unfinished and so totally broken in so many unacceptable ways that I can’t think of anyone to whom I’d recommend spending the $699 for the device and the $24 monthly subscription.

David Pierce absolutely whirlwind dunking on the Humane AI Pin in his review this morning. Goddamn!

Cherlynn Low at Engadget did not care for it either.

If the headline of “The Humane AI Pin is the solution to none of technology’s problems” wasn’t clear enough, here’s a pretty damning pull quote:

Not only is the Humane AI Pin slow, finicky and barely even smart, using it made me look pretty dumb. In a few days of testing, I went from being excited to show it off to my friends to not having any reason to wear it.

I had a feeling that the Pin was a solution looking for a problem, but I didn’t realize it’d be this downright useless or bad. Not the best first step for the Humane team.

The first Joker movie was a cynical, joyless movie, devoid of any interest or care in the character, slapping a license upon a barely related film. The trailer for the sequel looks just as head scratching. Good luck with that one, gang.

If you're like me, you are going to LOVE the Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast

Overcast.fm:

Join Seth Meyers as he sits down with fellow SNL alum and comedy-music sensations The Lonely Island (Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone) to discuss their wildly popular and groundbreaking series of SNL Digital Shorts that aired on Saturday Night Live beginning in 2005. Episode by episode they’ll discuss how each short was created, what the response to it was at the time, and what impact, if any, it still has today. Aided by Seth, the guys will relive their time at SNL and reminisce on the nearly 50-year-old show from a time when putting short comedy sketches on the internet was so novel that they maybe even helped launch YouTube to do it. Along the way they’ll talk all things SNL from guests, fellow cast members, and favorite live sketches including many that never aired.

The Lonely Island has had a near direct line to my funnybone since I first became aware of them and their work in 2005.

In fact, the free giveaway of “Lazy Sunday” was my first iTunes video “purchase”.

Since then, they’ve released three albums, over a hundred shorts, and produced two of my favorite comedies of all time, in Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping and Hot Rod.

Suffice to say, the moment I heard that Andy, Jorma and Akiva were going to be doing a watchalong/look back podcast with Seth Meyers, I was in.

The first episode hit on Monday, and is more about their road to Saturday Night Live and their struggles in getting on air. The Lonely Island gang are great storytellers, and their friendship comes through (though I believe its all recorded remotely). Seth acts as the perfect host, and if you are at all a fan of how comedy is made or the behind the scenes of SNL, I cannot recommend this enough.

If you’re not aware of The Lonely Island for whatever reason, get on watching Popstar. Immediately.

Apple Opens the Door for Video Game Emulators?

Microsoft Makes a Stand ALL Game Companies Need to Follow

The Dark Side of Trader Joe's

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Have A LOT in the Works

Uniqlo's Got a Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom T-Shirt Line Incoming

Polygon

Uniqlo’s latest video game collaboration may be its best yet. It teamed up with Nintendo on six T-shirts inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and they’re coming to stores in late April. Each $24.90 T-shirt features iconography and characters from Tears of the Kingdom.

As usual, Uniqlo has put together a pretty sweet series of tees for a licensed property.

I think the pocket tees with the Korok’s peeking out is the most clever of the set.

I’m not sure whether to be mad at – or proud of – the Noodles & Co. marketing exec who came up with this slogan.

I didn’t expect The Ringer to be the site to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Monument Valley, yet, here we are.

Yahoo! To Acquire Artifact, The Ex-Instagram Founder's News App

The Verge

Instagram’s co-founders built a powerful and useful tool for recommending news to readers — but could never quite get it to scale. Yahoo has hundreds of millions of readers — but could use a dose of tech-forward cool to separate it from all the internet’s other news aggregators. And so, the two sides are joining forces: Yahoo is acquiring Artifact, the companies announced on Tuesday.

The few times I gave Artifact a spin, I did think it was a compelling way to have news articles raised up and aggregated to your personal taste. At the same time, the weird social features seemed to get absolutely drowned by people trying to push their app/crypto/etc.

Keep the algorithmic news, drop the tech bros holding court like this is LinkedIn, and I think Yahoo! may actually have something compelling in their portfolio that isn’t Fantasy Sports related.

Oh, That's How They Make That

Driving home from another great Super Art Fight event, I had my Apple Music library on shuffle.

Not sure if that’s just a me thing to do, or others handle their music libraries the same way, but that’s not the point.

The song “War on Torpour” from the amazing Canadian post-rock band Do Make Say Think came on, off their 2017 release Stubborn Persistent Illusions.

It’s a hell of a song, and a great kick off to an album. After a slow, yet intense build, the song goes in all sorts of directions.

Here, give it a listen.

Pretty rad, right? Comes in with a lot of energy and a feeling of catharsis, not to mention the drumming is out of this world.

Thing is, for years and years, I just knew that song and its driivng force. Honestly, that’s really what I knew of Do Make Say Think’s music - the sound, the noise, the feeling.

During COVID, I looked up a live performance of the band – and not only is there a killer rendition on YouTube, via House of Strumbo, but I was hit upon not just delight at how well they performed the song, but a reminder that I was seeing – finally – how that incredible noise was made. You can forget that these songs are the efforts of individuals, making noise, together.

That should be timed to the song’s appearance in the video. If not, it’s at 24:45.

It was a crash course for me in not just respecting their efforts, but seeing the craft which spawned it. The magic trick, explained, even if I couldn’t believe it, as my ears and eyes couldn’t jive their perceptions of the work.

I don’t want to sound like an Old Man Yelling at a Cloud here, but I think we forget the art we digest is through the skill and effort of the artesian. They made the magic. Their dedication gave us something to appreciate and love.

And that hung with me on this drive home, how lucky we are to just be able to digest the art of so many, so easily, in a way more accessible than ever before. It’s a lucky time.

The WGA Urges Congress To Regulate AI

Jennifer Maas, Variety:

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and other unions representing film and TV writers and journalists sent a letter to Congress Thursday urging protections for their industries in any legislation regarding Artificial Intelligence.

Addressed to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the letter was co-signed by the NewsGuild-CWA, Writers Guild of America East (WGAE), Writers Guild of America West (WGAW), and National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians (NABET-CWA).

“So far this year, our members have witnessed the impact of unregulated AI on their jobs,” the letter, obtained by Variety, states. “Major news media companies, including Gannett and G/O Media sites, deployed AI articles with fake bylines to replace the work of hardworking local and digital journalists and writers. Film and television writers won critical protections in their collective bargaining agreement, but their work continues to be used by AI developers without their consent.”

This is going to be the first of many instances of different worker organizations speaking up and speaking out to their government about further regulating AI.

My galaxy brained take? The AI revolution will lead to greater adoption of unions and collective bargaining. And I couldn’t be more for that.

Netflix and Jerry Seinfeld Present...The Pop-Tart Movie (Really)

Netflix on YouTube:

Michigan, 1963. Kellogg’s and Post, sworn cereal rivals, race to create a pastry that will change the face of breakfast. A tale of ambition, betrayal, sugar, and menacing milkmen, Unfrosted stars Jerry Seinfeld in his directorial debut.

Unfrosted is coming to Netflix on May 3.

Following in the footsteps of other Movies About How This Thing Was Made, like The Social Network, BlackBerry, Air, Tetris, The Founder and many, many others, Jerry Seinfeld (of all people) directs the story of the humble Pop-Tart in Unfrosted.

Personally, I thought Jerry was more of a cereal guy, but I suppose I was wrong.

Strong cast, with people like Melissa McCarthy, Bill Burr and Hugh Grant, so maybe this won’t be too bad? Or maybe it’ll just slide off the public consciousness like most Netflix movies.

Do you think we get a S’mores Pop-Tarts post credits scene?

The Tragic Sitatuion of the New York Times Paywall

Mike Langley, McSweeny’s:

That’s a good one. Ha ha. Go ahead and type your email address in the box. Please.

Look, just write it. Hit the enter key. Now give me your password. Don’t make this harder than it has to be.

What, you want me to level with you? You want to know how real this gets?

If I let any more non-subscribers in, they’re gonna kill me. They’re gonna kill my family. Bam. Done.

That’s right, just type the password in the box. Nice and easy.

That wasn’t so bad, was it?

A gloriously grim first person article from everyone’s favorite paywall, The New York Times. Absolutely nails it.

Granted, it must be effective, as I now pay for two newspaper subscriptions, not also including Apple News+.

The NYT Takes Meta's New A.I. Fueled Smart Glasses Update for a Real-World Spin

The New York Times (Paywall):

The concept of the A.I. software is so novel and quirky that when we — Brian X. Chen, a tech columnist who reviewed the Ray-Bans last year, and Mike Isaac, who covers Meta and wears the smart glasses to produce a cooking show — heard about it, we were dying to try it. Meta gave us early access to the update, and we took the technology for a spin over the last few weeks.

The artificial intelligence technology in Meta’s new Ray-Ban smart glasses uses cameras and image recognition to give the wearer information about what he or she is looking at. We wore the glasses to the zoo, grocery stores and a museum while grilling the A.I. with questions and requests.

The upshot: We were simultaneously entertained by the virtual assistant’s goof-ups — for example, mistaking a monkey for a giraffe — and impressed when it carried out useful tasks like determining that a pack of cookies was gluten-free.

Is this impressive tech? Absolutely. Do I see a use for it in my day to day life? Absolutely not.

I feel awkward enough asking Siri for anything, and I’ve been using her since my iPhone 4S way back in 2011.

Maybe the more digital native generations will glom onto this, and maybe future updates will make the process less awkward, but the more I see breakdowns like these, I see solutions looking for problems, rather than the other way around.

If this sort of thing is your jam, though? It’s some of the best integrated A.I. tech I’ve seen so far.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Screw It, Canned Hot Dog Water

Chew Boom:

7-Eleven has unveiled a bold addition to its beverage lineup with the introduction of Big Bite Hot Dog Sparkling Water, developed in partnership with Miracle Seltzer. This unique offering joins the array of 7-Select sparkling waters, presenting fans with a range of innovative flavors.

In collaboration with Miracle Seltzer, 7-Eleven has curated a selection of sparkling waters featuring intriguing flavors such as Lemon Lime, Green Apple, Sweet Orange, and the unconventional Hot Dog, inspired by one of 7-Eleven’s signature snacks, the Big Bite Hot Dog.

…wait, what the hell?

The Big Bite Hot Dog Sparkling Water promises to encapsulate the essence of the iconic 7-Eleven hot dog experience, complete with the flavors of ketchup and mustard. This innovative beverage aims to transform the traditional pairing of hot dogs and sodas, allowing consumers to enjoy the essence of their favorite snack in a refreshing bubbly form.

That’s it. Wrap up the run of the human race. We’re done here.

While details regarding the availability of the Big Bite Hot Dog Sparkling Water will be disclosed on April 1, the rest of the 7-Select x Miracle Seltzer range, including Lemon Lime, Green Apple, and Sweet Orange flavors, can already be found at select 7-Eleven stores.

OH! It’s a gag. Thank God.

Running a test.

Feels a little odd to post my normal level of wacky bullshit today, all things considered. Back doing my thing tomorrow.

Scarlett Johansson Joins Next JURASSIC WORLD Movie

The Guardian Looks Back at John Carpenter's THE THING

Maybe you’ve heard of the Waffle House Index, as a sign of severity of storm damage. But have you heard of The Pizza Meter, as a sign of impending war?

Unlike me, MacStories' John Voorhees actually understands the law, and has put together a great explainer of the DOJ vs. Apple case.

The Anti-Influencer Revolt Has Begun, And I Could Not Be Happier

NPR:

The world of influencing is pretty simple.

Companies from the likes of Airbnb to Amazon to Louis Vuitton pay people with a lot of followers on social media to promote their products. These creators then make content, typically videos, where they recommend the products and services, often adding a discount code their followers can use to sweeten the deal.

It has evolved over time and can now include things like the “come shopping with me” trend that emulates the feeling of casually shopping with a friend. The influencers film themselves walking around stores and filling their carts with clothing, makeup, cute little bowls for your ramen noodles and, of course, Stanley cups.

De-influencing encourages people to buy less stuff and instead use what they already have.

I did not expect to share two articles related to sustainability today, but here we are.

In what I’d chalk up as another moment in the win column for Gen-Z, The Kids® are pushing up against the last few years of influencer culture, and saying, “Hey, wait, why do we need all of this crap?”

As someone who has been looking around his house and considered purging quite a bit, it’s a concept that I can absolutely agree with. Ironic, given how much of my last day job involved influencers.

I think the next generation is putting a strong focus on being genuine, real, and considerate, and rejection of capitalistic norms like these is just another example of it.

Now, how much this eventually effects our economy and relationship with countries that produce all of this junk…that’s for someone much smarter than me to consider. In the meantime: I breathe a sigh of relief that some people are still considering more than themselves.

Apple (apparently) finally allowing for greater homescreen customization for iOS 18 sounds pretty cool. Now, can I have the option to revert back to the old, non-interactive Reminders widget?

I cannot say that I expected Spotify to become an e-learning hub.

A Lesson on Selling Sustainability via Product Packaging

The Dieline:

Let’s say you’re a sustainable healthcare company selling over-the-counter (OTC) drugs in compostable and refillable packaging. Pain relief, allergy, cold and flu—all the good stuff that prompts many late-night Walgreens runs. You offer consumers a bottle—a beautiful, frosted glass bottle that looks great in a medicine cabinet—they can fill for the rest of their lives.

Sounds like a pretty sweet deal, right? You can high-five yourself because you’ll never buy Tylenol again. That’s just another plastic bottle that would likely end up in a landfill.

But you’re also a young brand with maybe just a few years under your belt. And now, lo and behold, Target comes calling. They want to stock your products because they believe in your core mission of sustainability. Swell, huh? But now you not only have to stand out on the shelf, you need to explain to shoppers—who have no clue who you are—what your brand is and how it actually works.

Very cool write up from The Dieline, not just showcasing some very cool, very effective packaging design for the sustainable medicine brand Cabinet, but also digging into the tough parts of selling to customers the “buy the package once, then refills only after” ethos.

This made me excited to buy aspirin, y’all.

3 Body Problem, or: Wait A Second, Benedict Wong is British?!

I’m bummed that it’s taken this long, but I’m glad to see the FTC do something about the crazy increases in grocery prices, while those orgs take in massive profits.

I’d prefer that it weren’t, you know, clear, but this featherless down jacket design is wild.

Disney+ Shows Off Their First Season of DOCTOR WHO

Disney+ on YouTube:

The upcoming season of “Doctor Who” follows the Doctor and his companion Ruby Sunday as they travel across time and space, with adventures all the way from the Regency era in England, to war-torn future worlds. Throughout their adventures in the TARDIS – a time-traveling ship shaped like a police box – they encounter incredible friends and dangerous foes, including a terrifying bogeyman, and the Doctor’s most powerful enemy yet.

A new era, a new Doctor, an influx of cash money from the mouse, this should make for a great time.

I really enjoyed the anniversary specials over the holidays, including the debut of Ncuti Gatwa, who was a lot of fun in the role, so I look forward to the release!

For the first time, it’s a world-wide debut, with episodes hitting Disney+ around the world starting on Friday, May 10th, 2024 at 7pm Eastern. That’s midnight, UK time.

Baldur’s Gate 3 developer is moving on from Dungeons and Dragons

Larian will NOT be making a Baldur’s Gate 4, it seems. I just heard so many of my friends groan at this news.

Bloomberg is reporting that OpenAI is meeting with Hollywood execs, studios and more to encourage filmmakers to use their Sora AI generated video tool. I do not care for this.

I'm Not Smart, But I Sure Have Thoughts on the DoJ Filing Against Apple

The internet was ablaze yesterday, as the United States Department of Justice officially did as rumored and decided, well, they were gonna sue Apple!

As The New York Times (paywalled) put it…

The federal government’s aggressive crackdown on Big Tech expanded on Thursday to include an antitrust lawsuit by the Justice Department against Apple, one of the world’s best-known and most valuable companies.

The department joined 16 states and the District of Columbia to file a significant challenge to the reach and influence of Apple, arguing in an 88-page lawsuit that the company had violated antitrust laws with practices that were intended to keep customers reliant on their iPhones and less likely to switch to a competing device. The tech giant prevented other companies from offering applications that compete with Apple products like its digital wallet, which could diminish the value of the iPhone, and hurts consumers and smaller companies that compete with it, the government said.

Sixteen states! Eighty eight pages! This is a Big Boy Document! They are serious about this one.

Let’s dig more into those accusations, shall we?

By tightly controlling the user experience on iPhones and other devices, Apple has created what critics call an uneven playing field, where it grants its own products and services access to core features that it denies rivals. Over the years, it has limited finance companies’ access to the phone’s payment chip and Bluetooth trackers from tapping into its location-service feature. It’s also easier for users to connect Apple products, like smartwatches and laptops, to the iPhone than to those made by other manufacturers.

This is the point and purpose of having a technology stack. Integrated systems which work together. Guess what? If you want to use a Fitbit (Google product) with an iPhone, you can. If you want to connect your iPhone to a Windows machine? You can.

You can do those things. But it’s better, easier, and works more cohesively via Apple products. Because Apple can account for all of their hardware and its quirks. This is no different – in my opinion – than JoyCons working more accurately on a Nintendo Switch than on an iPad. You sure can connect JoyCons to an iPad, but they sure as hell don’t work as well.

The lawsuit asks the court to stop Apple from engaging in current practices, including blocking cloud-streaming apps, undermining messaging across smartphone operating systems and preventing the creation of digital wallet alternatives.

Blocking cloud-streaming apps? OK, yeah, you’ve got a point. I think that’s a great idea to open that realm up. That’s what the EU has done with their DMA (Digital Markets Act), and Apple responded with their latest iOS update to account for it. The response to Apple’s response has been mixed, but there’s precedent. Go for it, DoJ!

Undermining messaging across smartphone operating systems? Uh…the only thing they have is iMessage, which allows Apple based users to use their version of a more secure enclave for messaging, a’la a Signal. If an Android user – who does not have iMessage – sends a standard SMS text to an Apple user, guess what? Apple users get that SMS. Yes! There is that green bubble versus the blue bubble thing – but that is almost exclusively a US based issue. Internationally, most people use WhatsApp…which doesn’t support SMS.

At best, maybe Apple should develop an iMessage app for Android or Windows. But I’ll be honest, I don’t see the point. And I know, you might argue “WHAT ABOUT RCS?” Apple’s on it. Sure, they got strong armed into it, but it’s happening.

Preventing the creation of digital wallet alternatives? I don’t even know what we’re fighting about here. The crummy US banking system already has tools like Zelle for you to send money. Perhaps I’m out of my realm here, but I definitely know that I’m not inclined to use a third-party payment tool.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg. You’ve got the government taking credit for Apple’s success by way of the 90’s antitrust case against Microsoft, you’ve got the weird breakdown of calling Apple the primary vendor of “performance smartphones”, which isn’t a thing, but if it were, you could go after Ferrari or Bugatti for being successful there, it just goes on and on for 88 pages of nonsense. Minus that one decent argument about app installations / the App Store.

Let’s wrap this up, with the last bit from the New York Times story:

“Competition makes devices more private and more secure,” said Jonathan Kanter, assistant attorney general of the Justice Department’s antitrust division. “In many instances, Apple’s conduct has made its ecosystem less private and less secure.”

What better way to make things more private and more secure than opening it up to anyone and everyone, and not locking the doors behind them. Do they hear themselves?

Up next: Merrick Garland finds out his newly bought PlayStation 5 copy of Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth won’t play on his Nintendo Switch, so he sues Sony.

Max FINALLY Shows Off THE PENGUIN

Max on YouTube:

The next chapter in @TheBatman saga from Matt Reeves. Academy Award Nominee Colin Farrell is #ThePenguin in the new Max Original Series coming this fall to Max.

It’s been a bumpy two years since the release of The Batman, with writers strikes, actors strikes, and more, but the spin-off series The Penguin is finally on its way.

With the above teaser, we now know that the series will hit Max this Fall, and yes, Colin Farrell remains unrecognizable under all that makeup.

It looks like a no-nonsense crime drama, and I cannot wait to return to the orange hued version of Matt Reeves' The Batman universe.

Here’s a fun blast from the past: Steve Jobs promoting a PlayStation emulator for use on iMac. I had no idea this had happened.

Wild to think it’s been 10 years since Wye Oak released Shriek. They put out a special 10th Anniversary edition today, and it’s worth checking out for the crazy orchestral versions tacked onto the end. I recommend comparing both versions of “The Tower”.

I’ve been absolutely obsessed with Balatro since I picked it up a few weekends ago. This TouchArcade interview with its single(!) dev is a nice read if you’ve been obsessed too.

It was a fraught process, filled with some serious hold your breath moments…but! I think I’ve condensed everything to Micro.blog as a host, and blast-o-rama.com as the URL, with forwarding if you go to marty.day. Annnnd this should cross post to Mastodon/BlueSky, too!

Finally, the world is on my side: it’s OK to wear shoes in your house sometimes.

Making a major, AAA Marvel Comics game and setting it within World War II seems like a risk, but so far, it looks promising!

I like the push for electric/hybrid vehicles. Even if I’d like it sooner than 2032. Which reminds me, my lease is almost up…

The first teaser trailer for the next Alien installment, Alien: Romulus is out. I’m getting some real “highly-regarded-Dark-Horse-mini-series” vibes from it.

The Struggles of Deciding Where to Host Your Site

Right now I’ve got a mix of sites on different hosting.

I’ve been thinking lately about merging my WordPress stuff into Micro.blog, but now omg.lol’s creator is hinting on their own blog service.

What the heck do I do? I’d like something cheaper, lightweight, and distributable. That’s all I’m considering in this.

Wow. X-Men ‘97 has debuted on Rotten Tomatoes with a 100% Fresh score. I’ll be damned.

Spider-Man 2 for the PS5? Cost $300 million to make. Monopoly Go, a free to play mobile version of the board game? Spent $500 million on marketing alone. I have no idea how any of this is sustainable.

Picked up Hi-Fi Rush last night, now that it’s available on PS5. Really awesome game so far, but as a Nine Inch Nails fan, I about lost my mind when “1,000,000” kicked in. HELL YEAH

The trailer for the next Star Wars series – set well before the original films – has arrived. Say hello to The Acolyte.

I can already tell that this article from The Verge about the changes (end?) at Pitchfork is going to be a good read.

First, it was the Chicken Sandwich wars. Next? Chicken pizza wars. #FastFoodArmsRace

Today I learned that there was a whole-ass variant of asbestos we hadn’t banned here in the US. Until today. And it’s still gonna take years for it to be gone.

AI is Coming for the iPhone, Whether We Like It or Not

Picked up Balatro on Steam, since I could play it on my Mac. I totally get the hype. Now…when there’s a mobile version…

Very excited to hear what Marvel has planned for the next era of X-Men comics.

Very cool that Hello From The Magic Tavern is getting an animated series. Also: Turns out Sam Rockwell has a production company?

The Pentagon's "There Are No Such Things as UFOs" Report has people asking a lot of questions already answered by the report

The New York Times:

But, according to a new report, none of these sightings were of alien spacecraft.

The new congressionally mandated Pentagon report found no evidence that the government was covering up knowledge of extraterrestrial technology and said there was no evidence that any U.F.O. sightings represented alien visitation to Earth.

The 63-page document is the most sweeping rebuttal the Pentagon has issued in recent years to counter claims that it has information on extraterrestrial visits or technology. But amid widespread distrust of the government, the report is unlikely to calm a growing obsession with aliens.

Suuuuuuuure. There’s nothing. And the report is true, not at all trying to calm a public hysteria.

And nice job trying to cover it up with the “individuals’ preconceptions and confirmation biases” dodge, Pentagon!

Whoa, I'm excited for a Zatanna comic.

DC:

I can’t say a Zatanna series was on my list of must haves…and then I saw this bit of art from the announcement post…

That looks dope as hell. I’m in.

Many are going to be eulogizing Akira Toriyama today. With Dragon Ball, Dr. Slump and his designs for Dragon Quest, he was a defining artist for many. I’d like to shout out his work on the Tobal games, which didn’t need to go so hard for a game best known for having the Final Fantasy VII demo disc.

Watching Kyle Kinane’s new special, Dirt Nap. Dude is one of the best going, hands down.

An ongoing mystery I’ve not yet been able to solve. Of all the emoji you can get engraved on Apple products…why is the humble rocket 🚀 not an option?

It says a lot that the bit I’m most excited about from this bit of news was the word Original when it comes to films.

Surprised, and a little bummed, that among the many many creators, Jonathan Hickman is not among those contributing to the final Krakoa-era issue of X-Men.

Toyota made a real Cat Bus with help from Studio Ghibli. I love it.

VERY interested in this Steve Martin documentary coming to Apple TV+. https://www.thewrap.com/steve-martin-a-documentary-in-two-pieces-trailer/

We had to know this was coming, right? If Nintendo didn’t think this was going to be a Hydra situation, they weren’t prepping correctly. https://www.gamesradar.com/barely-12-hours-after-the-shutdown-of-major-nintendo-switch-emulator-yuzu-replacements-began-surfacing-online/

Are We Mentally Prepared for Mars?

Very excited to watch the new version of Shōgun when I get home tonight.

Power Stone turns 25 today. And there’s no better time than the present for Capcom to announce a remaster or new installment or something… https://www.timeextension.com/news/2024/02/anniversary-power-stone-one-of-capcoms-forgotten-classics-turns-25-today

Your reminder that Installer is one of the best reads of the week, over at The Verge every Sunday. (Or via newsletter every Saturday, if you like.) www.theverge.com/24081130/…

And that’s that. My time at the current job is complete. Wiped my laptop to mail back to them, and I start the new gig Tuesday. LFG.

I think I’m officially radicalized

There was a time when I considered making a go of blogging, taking my efforts and building it somewhere. Glad I didn’t.

What Could Be: A BATMAN BEYOND Animated Film

Welcome The Beatles Cinematic Universe

Folks, I turn 40 this year. And I JUST NOW got that Firmware fits between Hardware and Software. Don’t let me vote.

Comics on the iPad, Premier League on the TV. Not a bad start for a Saturday.

Sitting here telling myself that even though it’s $300 off on Amazon, I don’t need an Apple Studio Display.

…the issue is, I really WANT one…

I think my favorite warning in the listing of various issues in a prescription drug ad is, “Don’t take [new drug you’re hearing about for the first time] if you’re allergic to [that drug].” A real help.

For years, I've wanted ONE THING from a Fantastic Four movie...

…and it looks like it’s coming true.

As revealed earlier today on social media, Marvel confirmed quite a few things about its forthcoming Fantastic Four movie, the first with the FF as a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

First, it’s title, which is The Fantastic Four. Not to be confused with Fantastic Four or Fantastic 4.

Second, the cast, which features…

And most cruically, based on the logo art and the promo image we’ve got here below…

IT’S A SIXTIES PERIOD PIECE

Now, I don’t know if this means that part of the movie is in the 1960’s, the whole thing is, or if Marvel just really likes the retro aesthetic, but the style combined with those costumes feels very 1960’s.

Ever since The Incredibles came out, my mind’s eye has had a vision of a perfect Fantastic Four movie, set in the era the original comics were made. This may not live up to my brain’s hopes, but goddamnit, it’s a start.

The Fantastic Four hits theaters on July 25, 2025.

How did I sleep prior to the Calm app? This is like night and day.

A New PREDATOR is on the way, and it just might be good.

Good morning. Why not start your day with a live recording of ZELDA themes?

The FTC is back for Microsoft. 1,900 people might get some sense of justice, I suppose.

I was a very big fan of Arcade Fire for a very long time – thought their most recent album was a return to form even! – but the allegations against Win Butler were absolutely atrocious in content. It’s fascinating to me that their move appears to be to…act like it didn’t happen and have anniversary shows anyway?

Had one of those evenings where I was just relaxing and using my iPad and recognizing how wild it is that I just have this pane of glass that gives me access to the world’s knowledge, every song ever recorded, most movies ever…

Miss the old internet? These video games do too.

When the hobby becomes a hustle. Or: Goddamnit why do I need to be on another app?

So where does The Apple Vision Pro take us next? And could it be horrible?

Enjoying the debut album from The Last Dinner Party this morning. Lands somewhere between chamberpop and almost, like…50’s rock? https://music.apple.com/us/album/prelude-to-ecstasy/1716063932

The Philadelphia cheesesteak as obsession and art

Listen To This: Paramore Covers The Talking Heads

The Iconfactory Looks To Launch PROJECT TAPESTRY via Kickstarter

You Cannot Kill Mondo. Meet MUTANT.

“Marty, how was your weekend?” “Well, my pro-wrestling inspired art competition show did a weekend of shows with a real pro-wrestling company. And we packed the venue for two nights straight.”

A Look at the Wild First Year of LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O’BRIEN

A24 Made Me Cry This Morning, Now Its Your Turn

If the Chiefs win tonight, Baltimore local news will be non-stop Taylor Swift coverage.

When a GBA Game Crashes, It Plays Its ROM Data as the Sound

Why is it that movies which are exclusive to streaming services automatically feel less-than versus those which had theater releases? I can only think of 3 that had staying power in my head…Glass Onion (Netflix), Prey (Hulu) and Palm Springs (Hulu).

And there goes the last ounce of any credibility that The Baltimore Sun still had. Woof.

It absolutely sucks that Twitch and Unity are making big cuts in a time where the game industry has been so volatile.

At the same time, if you’re looking to build out a great game engine or streaming platform…a lot of good people just got on the market. May everyone land well on their feet.

I can’t say that I had Brian Cox recapping the TEKKEN franchise on my bingo list for today

A very cool look at the production of the ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE score

The DoJ decides to go after Apple because why not

Rewatching 30 Rock has proved definitively that I married Liz Lemon.

I don’t mean to be alarmist, but every time I open Threads, the “For You” section is the most baiting, lowest common denominator takes.

It’s as if you’re incentivized for angering. I know others see worse, but that’s not a space I want to put my time and energy into.

Amateur fireworks displays: A way to tell your neighbors, “Yes, I’m an Asshole!”

2023 was a tough year. Dealt with some health issues, both mine, and for those in my family.

But there are some positives! I started going to therapy again, getting my mind right.

2024 is going to be about prioritizing my own health and care. It’s time.

Why JEOPARDY ended up replacing Mayim Bialik

Shout out to Sony’s Game Trials options for PS Plus subscribers. I just tried two very hyped games, and learned that they were Not For Me…without spending the cash!

Really dug Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor on the Doctor Who Christmas Special. My lone complaint? What the hell is with that Sonic Screwdriver?!

Doing our annual rewatch of Elf. Blonde Zooey Deschanel hits different.

Annnnnnnnd that’s a bunch of Substack newsletters (including some I pay for!) unsubscribed from.

Happy to say Flynn got the all clear from the neurologist, and he’s back home.

We’re not 100% out of the woods, and are going to be watching him closely…but the important part is that he is home.

A middle of the night trip to the Pet ER is never fun. Our little dude Flynn had a seizure. He’s stable, but we’re trying to figure out what’s what.

I’m just saying, Marvel. Find->Replace “Kang” with “Doom”.

Why do I love Blank Check with Griffin & David? 2 hours into a 3 hour episode about The Boy and the Heron, they’re deep diving into the Spawn movie. overcast.fm/+FnAi-DI-…

Noticed a lot of places near me promoting visits with the Grinch. Less so, visits with Santa. When did this shift happen?

I’m going to try to avoid saying the name of the movie, but it’s always fascinating when a fanbase so fervently awaits reviews, looks to champion the Rotten Tomatoes score, and when it’s low…immediately goes to “WELL IF THE CRITICS DON’T LIKE IT IT MUST BE GOOD.”

Got a wrong number voicemail from an apartment complex, a message from the leasing office. I called them back – not because I wanted to correct the number/call per se – so that they could make sure to call the right person at the right number. Couldn’t sit with myself if it was something really crucial regarding their housing.

This might be some serious nerd shit, but I absolutely agree with how life changing having access to a clipboard manager is.

Add CIVIL WAR to my most hyped movies of 2024 list

2023 Favorites

Don’t get me wrong, I’m going to be in, on, and working, but for the most part, this week is the last week for office people “working”, right?

There was a lot at the Game Awards last night, but this I’m going to be obsessed with for a while

I know everyone hates “Wonderful Christmas Time” by Paul McCartney, but does it sound like to anyone else that the song was one take, just Paul messing around with a keyboard and figuring out the song?

I Guess This Is Where I Have a Take on the GTA VI Reveal

I’m Sorry, But Things Cost Money

Its Another Monster Throwdown In The GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE Trailer

Sitting down for Godzilla Minus One. Very hyped for this based on the astounding word-of-mouth.

That there FALLOUT show is looking like its gonna turn out A-OK

FORGET EVERYTHING ELSE YOU’RE DOING RIGHT NOW THE DING DANG FURIOSA TRAILER IS HERE

Some of the Best Movie Posters for 2023

Start backing up your Bandcamp purchases

The Secrets of Cookie Monster’s Cookies REVEALED

I Am Getting Excited About the FALLOUT Show. Don’t Mess This Up, Amazon

Time to Rock Out Like Its the 2000’s with…KELLY CLARKSON?!

Timothy Olyphant?! Yeah, I’m going to be watching that ALIEN show

Still trying to parse if I enjoyed Napoleon last night. The scenes of battle are truly masterful in execution, but Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of Napoleon is quite surreal at times. Maybe accurate to the real man? I don’t know enough about him or his life to say. I just know that it made for a jarring viewing experience.

Suppose I Should Throw on Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Today

Enjoyed the first episode of MONARCH, but oh boy was that CG masking of John Goodman’s face onto a running stuntman’s body nightmarish.

Not that I needed another streaming service, but now WES ANDERSON has one

It’s a very big day for streaming, in my humble opinion

For years, I had a tradition of doing a snark filled live tweet of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. Now that I am mostly on other social media sites, I think they’re not as “live post” focused. So I think that those are retired.

A 2500 piece LEGO Orient Express train is on its way

The Panda Drought Will Soon Be Over

Maybe don’t get your daily Starbucks today. Support the people who support you.

Every time I look at Hideo Kojima’s Instagram, he’s eating awesome looking food, listening to rad music, or going to the movies. Be more like Kojima, everyone.

From Mando to the MCU

I Don’t Need Another Handheld System. Yet…

John Oliver Did It, Folks

And Now We’re Gonna Make a Mess in Space, Too

Huh. There wasn’t already an ongoing series featuring both Spider-Men

I suppose we knew it was coming eventually, but RIP Comixology.

THIS IS NOT A DRILL THE FULL THREE HOUR VERSION OF GRINDHOUSE IS ON VOD NOW

Celebrate the holidays with the Dark Knight and Son in MERRY LITTLE BATMAN

If you enjoy sci-fi movies, you should check out THE CREATOR now that it’s on VOD

COYOTE VS. ACME Isn’t Dead Yet

A Quick Look at my current podcast queue

This Apple Vision Pro thing is the real deal, isn’t it?

REVIEW: The Killer (2023)

So I’m gonna be able to just install whatever apps I want on my phone now?

The SAG-AFTRA strike is over, but what about that A.I. bit?

Hopping aboard that Default Apps 2023 train

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN, you had my interest, now you have my attention

Oh lord, now I want a STEAM DECK again

Zaslav Strikes Again: Warner Bros Shelves COYOTE VS. ACME

An ELON MUSK Bio Pic? Darren Aronofsky, A24, Say It Ain’t So!

How’d the New CALL OF DUTY Turn Out? Bad, They Say.

The Current State of Internet Advertising, and How It Killed Jezebel

Online Only Apple Event Coming Next Monday

LEGO Announces DUNE Atreides Royal Ornithopter Set with the Craziest Mini Figure Ever

A24 Takes On A Legendary Wrestling Family with THE IRON CLAW

Why the Internet Isn’t Fun Anymore

Kyle Chayka - The New Yorker:

These experiences don’t seem as readily available now as they were a decade ago. In large part, this is because a handful of giant social networks have taken over the open space of the Internet, centralizing and homogenizing our experiences through their own opaque and shifting content-sorting systems. When those platforms decay, as Twitter has under Elon Musk, there is no other comparable platform in the ecosystem to replace them. A few alternative sites, including Bluesky and Discord, have sought to absorb disaffected Twitter users.

But like sproutlings on the rain-forest floor, blocked by the canopy, online spaces that offer fresh experiences lack much room to grow.

Once again, I find an article that I read and go, “I wish I had been the one to write this.” Chayka hits the nail on the head of something I’ve been feeling in my gut over this past year, but haven’t quite been able to square.

An absolutely worthwhile read.

A First Look at the LEGO Animal Crossing Line

Netflix Reveals SCOTT PILGRIM TAKES OFF

A New Trailer for the Latest TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Reboot

www.youtube.com/watch

Paramount Pictures on YouTube:

Starring Nicolas Cantu (Leonardo), Sharon Brown Jr. (Mikey), Micah Abbey (Donnie), Brady Noon (Raph), Jackie Chan (Splinter), Ayo Edebiri (April), Ice Cube (Superfly), Seth Rogen (Bebop), John Cena (Rocksteady), Paul Rudd (Mondo Gecko), Rose Byrne (Leatherhead), Post Malone (Ray Fillet), Hannibal Buress (Genghis Frog), Natasia Demetriou (Wing Nut), Maya Rudolph (Cynthia Utrom), and Giancarlo Esposito (Baxter Stockman)!

I really love how much the success of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse has inspired American animation companies to experiment, visually.

Also, real actual teens as the turtles themselves is an inspired choice.

Flick looks to be a nice, late-Summer jam.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem hits theaters on August 2, 2023.

Originally was planning to go see Guardians Vol. 3 or Fast X tonight.

Instead? Put 3 more hours into Zelda.

Finally got to dig into Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. A few hours in, it’s doing a great job of making me feel like a massive idiot, followed by a super genius…then back to idiot. GOTY.

Gonna go ahead and wade into The Discourse™ for a hot minute: The running time of a movie means absolutely fuck all and should not be something to be excited about or dreaded over. Only matters if you’re trying to schedule other things around it.

Tom Cruise is Off to the Races Again, in New MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - DEAD RECKONING PART ONE Trailer

youtu.be/avz06PDqD…

Paramount Pictures on YouTube:

It’s crazy how, though the franchise has always been — at least — good, over the last few installments, I’ve absolutely become a drooling fanboy for the Mission: Impossible films.

Tom Cruise is a crazy, crazy man, but I’m so glad that Christopher McQuarrie pushes him to make these incredible action ballets.

Have a poster, too.

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One runs into theaters on July 12, 2023.

LEGO Celebrates BATMAN RETURNS With Unreal 3,981 Piece Batcave Shadowbox Set!

Though I’ve not yet been able to start Tears of the Kingdom, seeing all of the videos of wild in-game creations across social media has absolutely given me life this weekend. Shine on, you crazy diamonds.

Daft Punk - "Prime (2012 Unfinished)"

And that’s roll credits on Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

Just now caught up to Scream (2022) – had a lot of fun with it.

That said, I’d like Radio Silence to get back in the swing of more originals like Ready or Not, ASAP.

Noticed that people don’t seem to be talking up Yellowjackets as much this season. I’ve yet to start it – still worth it?

Looking forward to catching up with my dude Paul this Fall. www.youtube.com/watch

With the Summer Movie Season arriving this weekend, I am again reminded how much I miss things like music videos for songs from movies soundtracks, or massive fast-food promotions. They made each movie feel like an event.

Playing STAR WARS JEDI: SURVIVOR on Story Mode difficulty for the power fantasy gang RISE UP

Pretty sure this week’s BOB’S BURGERS was Kaiju Big Battel inspired?

Got an obvious spam email for internet services for an upcoming con SAF is a part of. How did I know it was spam? For some reason, it was addressed to “John Fake”.

It’s Disney vs. Florida: WHOEVER WINS – WE LOSE.

Sometimes, folks, it’s a strategic meal of Five Guys that you need to sand down all the rough edges of life.

DSTLRY: A Comic Imprint From Ex-ComiXology Management, With Some Great Talent and New Ideas About Digital Comics

LEGO's New TALES OF THE SPACE AGE Set Couldn't Be More In My Wheelhouse If It Tried

LEGO.com:

The four-piece postcard sized set is vibrant and showcases an overarching story of a space shuttle, moon base, black hole, lunar eclipse, different star constellations and more. Additionally, it offers lots of flexibility in how it can be arranged, as each picture is physically independent of the others.

This rules SO HARD!

Hits May 5th for LEGO VIP Members, May 8th for the general public. $50. Nab it here!

It's An Intergalactic Team-Up With THE MARVELS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuk77TjvfmE

Marvel Entertainment on YouTube:

Monica Rambeau returns in Marvel Studios' #TheMarvels, only in theaters November 10.

Looks like an aggressively fun time. Marvel could use a nice win with this one.

Lucasfilm Reveals STAR WARS: VISIONS VOLUME 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSXqU92cymY

Star Wars on YouTube:

Streaming May 4 on Disney+.

Star Wars: Visions is one of my favorite things of the Disney era of Star Wars, and once again, this looks SO COOL.

Different studios, different animation styles, different feels, but all undeniably Star Wars. Can’t wait!

Shazam! Fury of the Gods, 2023 - ★★★

65, 2023 - ★★★

Creed III, 2023 - ★★★★

The Future of STAR WARS in Film Revealed at CELEBRATION EUROPE

StarWars.com:

James Mangold’s movie will go back to the dawn of the Jedi, while Dave Filoni’s will focus on the New Republic, and close out the interconnected stories told in The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, and other Disney+ series. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s film will be set after the events of Rise of Skywalker, and feature Daisy Ridley back as Rey as she builds a new Jedi Order.

Honestly, I dig all 3 ideas.

You get a big bit of closure to the Mandalorian/Book of Boba Fett/Ahsoka series, dig into completely uncharted territory with Mangold’s film (who must’ve really impressed with Indy 5), and some decent closure to the frought Sequel Trilogy era with a new movie around Rey.

Let’s hope they actually get made!

A New Trailer for INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQfMbSe7F2g

Lucasfilm on YouTube:

Harrison Ford returns as the legendary hero archaeologist in the highly anticipated fifth installment of the iconic “Indiana Jones" franchise, which is directed by James Mangold (“Ford v Ferrari,“ “Logan"). Starring along with Ford are Phoebe Waller-Bridge (“Fleabag"), Antonio Banderas (“Pain and Glory"), John Rhys-Davies (“Raiders of the Lost Ark"), Shaunette Renee Wilson (“Black Panther"), Thomas Kretschmann (“Das Boot"), Toby Jones (“Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom"), Boyd Holbrook (“Logan"), Oliver Richters (“Black Widow"), Ethann Isidore (“Mortel") and Mads Mikkelsen (“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore"). Directed by James Mangold, the film is produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Simon Emanuel, with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas serving as executive producers. John Williams, who has scored each Indy adventure since the original “Raiders of the Lost Ark” in 1981, is once again composing the score.

I can’t say I expected a John Williams and Rolling Stones mashup today.

This looks like a really fun adventure. The de-aging tech is WILD. Let us continue to hope it’s good.

Get Hyped REBELS Fans: The First Look Teaser for AHSOKA Is Here!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnzNZ0Mdx4I

Star Wars on YouTube:

Straight from the opening showcase at Star Wars Celebration in London this weekend, here’s our first look at the next Star Wars TV series — Ahsoka, which looks like another action filled romp.

4 months to go!

The Astounding Second Trailer for SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE is Here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shW9i6k8cB0

Sony Pictures Entertainment on YouTube:

I am absolutely gobsmacked by this trailer.

This movie is going to be something really special, I am more and more sure of it with every piece of footage I see.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, 2023 - ★★★★½

Netflix Brings Back the WHOLE CAST for SCOTT PILGRIM Anime Adaptation

The Hollywood Reporter:

Michael Cera will voice star as Scott Pilgrim and Mary Elizabeth Winstead will reprise her role as Ramona Flowers. Other returning castmembers include Satya Bhabha, Kieran Culkin, Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick, Brie Larson, Alison Pill, Aubrey Plaza, Brandon Routh, Jason Schwartzman, Johnny Simmons, Mark Webber, Mae Whitman And Ellen Wong.

HOLY SHIT.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World was one of the projects most passionately followed on this here blog, and knowing that they got the ENTIRE CAST back for the animated adaptation, that Edgar Wright is producing, and freaking ANAMANAGUCHI — who did the video game soundtrack — is doing the score.

Absolutely unreal. I cannot wait.

Our First Look at Wes Anderson's ASTEROID CITY

Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America - A Review

Nintendo Showcases Gameplay from THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TEARS OF THE KINGDOM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6qna-ZCbxA

Nintendo on YouTube:

The Nintendo dev team are wizards doing unreal things with the worlds of in game physics and interactivity.

Is there pop up? Does it look a little slow at times? Sure.

But what they’re producing beyond that? Unreal.

Disney + Pixar Show Us More of ELEMENTAL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXzcyx9V0xw

Pixar on YouTube:

I have to say, this appears to be an absolute visual feast, but overall, this kinda just feels like Zootopia but if elements instead of animals.

Maybe there’s a missing piece here that the trailers aren’t showing?

Elemental hits theaters on June 16, 2023.

John Wick: Chapter 4, 2023 - ★★★★½

Funko Guts Mondo, Posters No Longer to Be Produced

I feel like Cocaine Bear could’ve gone harder in either direction of comedy or horror, but it’s a movie that knows exactly what it is, without being too winky or cloying. Had a fun time. Alden Ehrenreich redeemed.

Cocaine Bear, 2023 - ★★★½

Anyone else having issues downloading apps from the Mac App Store this morning? Or just me?

Mondo Wows With SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE Prints by Matt Taylor & Murugiah

Genuinely exciting news for the future of the Open Web: Automattic has acquired the plug-in “ActivityPub for WordPress” and hired its developer as well.

For those who don’t know what this means, it means we’re closer to WordPress blogs being something you can follow on ActivityPub using sites – like Mastodon, Micro.blog, and even Tumblr (soon).

So cool to see Everything Everywhere All At Once practically sweep the Oscars last night. That said, if you haven’t, I highly recommend watching Daniels' first film, the surreal and incredible Swiss Army Man. It’s up now on HBO Max.

Great News! Amazon Saves BATMAN: CAPED CRUSADER from HBO Max, Gives A 2 Season Order

The Hollywood Reporter:

The streamer and retail giant has handed out a two-season order for the animated series that was scrapped at HBO Max last August. Caped Crusader landed at the Jennifer Salke-led streamer after producer Warner Bros. Animation shopped the project following the cost-cutting move that saw parent company Warner Bros. Discovery scrap the show more than a year and a half after ordering it straight to series. Other streamers, including Netflix, Apple and Hulu, also kicked the tires on the project that marks a reunion for executive producers J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves, who previously collaborated on The WB Network’s beloved Felicity.

More Timm Batman, and more WB animation, cannot be a bad thing, right?

Michael B. Jordan Goes Big, Set To Launch CREED-Verse with Amazon + MGM

Deadline:

Details are sketchy because some of the conversations are still in exploratory stages but we hear that an anime series connected to the Rocky spinoff IP is in the works, and there are ideas for a companion live-action TV series. Also percolating is a potential project centering around Adonis Creed’s daughter, Amara, who was played by deaf actress Mila Davis-Kent in Creed III, making her film acting debut.

A few quick thoughts on this one.

I mean, this is the same day where Bob Iger’s literally saying “hey, maybe less Marvel sequels“…so what makes this teflon?

Apple TV+ Reveals A First Look at SILO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBMajXwi6Cs

Apple TV+ / YouTube:

Getting serious Snowpiercer vibes off of this. Hell of a cast, though. Apple TV+ keeps bringing out bangers.

Seth Rogen's Animated TMNT Movie Gets Its First Trailer!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooZdaF2zMlM

Paramount Pictures / YouTube:

Watch the new teaser trailer for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: #MutantMayhem - Only in theatres August 4, 2023.

In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, after years of being sheltered from the human world, the Turtle brothers set out to win the hearts of New Yorkers and be accepted as normal teenagers through heroic acts. Their new friend April O’Neil helps them take on a mysterious crime syndicate, but they soon get in over their heads when an army of mutants is unleashed upon them.

This looks like a blast!

It’s Superbad meets Into the Spider-Verse. I’m very into it!

At that phase in having sinus issues where I just want to eat a giant plate of Buffalo Wings to get things moving.

So many of me and my friend’s interests are colliding on this one: Daniels (directors of Everything Everywhere All At Once) have put together a photoshoot of Jennifer Coolidge for W Magazine…that is a giant Tokusatsu homage.

Digging through an archive of my Last.fm account, I dug up a great song/band I’ve not listened to in ages. Here’s a Casket Lottery side project, Jackie Carol, with their song “No Fiction”.

GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY, THAT'S BATTLE CHASERS MUSIC

io9:

io9 can exclusively confirm that Battle Chasers #10 will complete its long, long road to publication this June, setting off a new story arc for the fantasy series. Having hopped from Wildstorm in the late 90s, Image—which, three years ago, published an anthology of the first nine issues of the series that has gone to multiple reprints—will release the series, with Ludo Lullabi joining the book on art.

Talk about an unreal, completely unexpected announcement from the world of comics.

I adored Battle Chasers, as an anime-obsessed teen who loved Joe Mad’s run on Uncanny X-Men. The idea that the comic is picking back up 22 years later is something I never thought to occur, especially since the RPG video game seemed to be the proper destination for the tale.

I’ve no idea if this will be good, but at the least, I’m intrigued!

A history of the Pizza Hut/X-Men promotion?! THIS is why I pay for SKTCHD!

This headline reads as if Square is looking to make a Final Fantasy game designed specifically for me, Marty Day.

I have to say, using a smartphone or a computer with your eyes dilated is a hell of a ride.

But on the good side of things: eyes are healthy, and my prescription just has to eek up a smidge. New glasses in two weeks.

Whatever allows movie theaters to stay in business, I guess.

The Full Trailer for TED LASSO Season 3 Is Here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR9yjn7Lkdg

Apple TV / YouTube:

Thanks Apple UK YouTube for having this a smidge early.

What can I say? We’re at the Return of the Jedi season.

New season starts March 15th. Can’t wait!

Can’t help but notice the MLS ref is wearing an Apple Watch Ultra. Clever.

Let me tell you – it’s a lot easier to progress in Metal Slug when you can give yourself infinite credits.

Why yes, the new Gorillaz album was my first pick on this #newmusicfriday.

SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN TV Series in Development at Netflix with DARK Creators

Deadline:

Ever since I started reading Something Is Killing The Children, I just knew it was ripe for a TV or movie adaptation.

Add the Dark duo working on it, and you have something very promising.

If nothing else, expect to see a ton of monster bandanas sold at your local Hot Topic / Box Lunch.

That Marvel Ultimate Universe You Like, It's Going To Come Back In Style

EW.com:

Now, EW can exclusively reveal that Hickman and Hitch are teaming up for a new comic series, Ultimate Invasion, which will feature elements from the Ultimate Marvel universe. The Maker (an alternate version of Reed Richards) and Miles Morales (perhaps Ultimate Marvel’s most important original character, though he wasn’t created by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli until 2011) are both set to play major roles in the story.

I can’t say I had “Marvel Brings Back The Ultimate Universe", on my bingo card, even what might be a one-off event?

Though, this line sounds ominous…

A fun conversation starter from the Club MacStories Discord…how many apps are on your phone? I currently have 172.

When you have to get your wife to the airport at 5am, that’s the best time to not be able to sleep.

Plane, 2023 - ★★★

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023): A Review

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, 2023 - ★★★

Pretty hyped about there being a new Bone anthology, even if it doesn’t hit until September.

Oh boy, I’m going to be making serious use out of my AMC A-List subscription these next few weeks!

  • This weekend: Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
  • Feb 24: Cocaine Bear
  • March 3: Creed III
  • March 10: Scream VI, 65
  • March 17: Shazam! Fury of the Gods
  • March 24: John Wick: Chapter 4
  • March 31: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
  • April 7: The Super Mario Bros. Movie
  • April 14: Renfield
  • April 21: Evil Dead Rise, Beau is Afraid
  • May 5: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

…and so on, and so on…

Bottleneck Gallery Returns to Where It All Began With IRON MAN by Nicolas Tetreault-Abel

Bottleneck Gallery:

Iron Man kicked off the MCU juggernaut in a very real way and helped create a foundation for Marvel’s future films. Nicolas’ print for Iron Man features the characters and lore from the movie all in one awesome print (just check out that classic superhero pose!). Oh, and we had to include lenticular and aluminum editions of the print because it’s Iron Man!

Really awesome stuff, especially with Bottleneck’s trademark lenticular variants.

They go on sale tomorrow at Noon Eastern, if you’re so inclined, $55-$175.

TED LASSO Returns March 15th, and Here's The Teaser

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m14CQFtNi8

YouTube:

There’s more plot revealed in the above synopsis than in the teaser itself, but it’s interesting that this will be Apple TV’s first show not dropping new episodes on Fridays.

Time to Believe again, y’all.

HIGH FIVE TREE

Ted Lasso returns for Season 3 on March 15th, 2023 on Apple TV+.

Do I know anyone with a New York Times subscription, and if so: do you still get ads in-app?

I’m sure this is such a “no duh” moment for many, but: blasting music you know and love really makes the workday zoom.

Hell of a game.

As a new fan of the Premier League, I have to say: their on-screen graphics + typography are out of this world.

Strap In with The Family: The FAST X Trailer Has Arrived

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32RAq6JzY-w

YouTube:

Over many missions and against impossible odds, Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his family have outsmarted, out-nerved and outdriven every foe in their path. Now, they confront the most lethal opponent they’ve ever faced: A terrifying threat emerging from the shadows of the past who’s fueled by blood revenge, and who is determined to shatter this family and destroy everything—and everyone—that Dom loves, forever.

Jason Momoa! Brie Larson! Rita GODDAMNED Moreno! A nearly four minute goddamned trailer!

THE FAMBILY IS BACK

Fast X hits theaters on May 19, 2023.

A Live Action SPIDER-MAN NOIR Series? OK, I'm Listening, Amazon.

Variety:

The untitled series will follow an older, grizzled superhero in 1930s New York City. An individual with knowledge of the project says that the show will be set in its own universe and the main character will not be Peter Parker.

The saddest part? I’m 99% sure that this will not feature Nic Cage.

Lord & Miller producing, however, makes me hopeful that this version of Spider-Man Noir will retain the same hammy dialogue as the Into the Spider-Verse version.

POINTS! @Midnight to Return as Replacement for CBS's Late Late Show

The Hollywood Reporter:

I’m actually genuinely happy to see this!

Before it went off air, I was a big fan of @Midnight, given how close it was to a British panel show versus a proper game show or  late night talk show, and would frequently join its daily Hashtag Wars.

That said, I have two thoughts off the bat:

Either way, I am very intrigued to see how this plays out…

…even if I’m an old man who will watch the episodes the next day on Paramount+, versus “live" on CBS.

MSCHF Brings You Astro Boy Boots You Can Own

Highsnobiety:

But then there’s the really wild stuff that pushes the boundaries of MSCHF Sneakers' entire oeuvre — if not the entirely definition of the word “sneakers — MSCHF’s big, red Astro Boy-indebted boots are the latest and greatest example.

Grab your own pair on MSCHF’s site on February 16th at 11am, for a brisk $350.

LEGO Goes LORD OF THE RINGS Crazy With $500 Rivendell Set

LEGO.com:

This set is absolutely unreal.

Over 6000 pieces, all the mini figures you could want, and a $500 price tag, this is for the hardcores, but goddamn the execution of it all! The set will be available from March 8th, 2023.

I highly recommend checking out the source link for all the photos. Wow.

I don’t know about y’all, but I’m gonna just keep calling this Brad.

I'm Still Aware of What You Did, Oh, Twenty Summers Ago?

Deadline:

The late 90’s revival is here!

Another Look at Hulu's HISTORY OF THE WORLD PART II

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jok7jfOUUxI

YouTube:

Finally, a sequel to the seminal Mel Brooks film, HISTORY OF THE WORLD PART I, with each episode featuring a variety of sketches that take us through different periods of human history.

I’m still pretty skeptical on this being successful and not a Spaceballs: The Animated Series level failure, but at the same time…

Mel? Get paid, buddy.

INJUSTICE is Back! In Jon Kent Superman Form

DC:

Yes, we can finally reveal that Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent not only continues Jon’s story that Taylor began in Superman: Son of Kal-El, but also builds on the legacy of storytelling he crafted for the popular DC video game franchise, which hasn’t been seen in a DC comic book since the Injustice 2 series concluded in 2018. But how exactly will Jon find himself in Injustice’s harrowing world, in which Batman finds himself fighting for survival against a tyrant Superman? We were as curious as you, so we sat down with Taylor for an exclusive interview about the upcoming series and its newly revealed twist.

I have to say, Taylor’s run on Injustice was SHOCKINGLY good for a video game tie-in comic, and I’ve enjoyed his run with the Jon Kent Superman*, so odds are this could be a decent read.

But really, I just want to know what the heck the NetherRealm team is working on post Mortal Kombat 11, and this just ads to the frothing need for an update!

 

*it’s not as good as his run on Nightwing, which is some all-timer level stuff.

AMC Innovates The Dumbest Idea to Come to Movie Tickets Yet

Variety:

The country’s largest exhibition chain is rolling out Sightline at AMC, a ticket pricing initiative based on seat location within the auditorium. Moviegoers will have the option to pay more or less for admission depending on where they choose to sit in the theater. In effect, front row seats will be available at a lower price, while seats in the middle of the theater will be available at a higher price.

The initiative kicks off on Friday at select AMC locations in New York, Chicago and Kansas City and will be expanded to all domestic AMC locations by the end of the year.

I say this as a proud AMC A-List member…

…this is the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard of.

I recognize theaters, arenas, etc. all do this as is, but you’re ruining one of the few advantages which the movie theater has over those outlets.

Boo to this, complete.y

Bottleneck Gallery Celebrates Miyazaki With Raid71's STORYTELLER Print

Bottleneck Gallery:

Raid’s print pays homage to one of the greatest creative minds of all time, Hayao Miyazaki. Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli have been creating magical animated films for decades, and Raid has a deep history with the films.

$50 for the standard print (above), $60 for the variant (viewable at the above link), $110 for both, hits tomorrow at Noon Eastern.

What a cool print!

The Conversation, 1974 - ★★★★½

Really enjoying Shrinking on Apple TV+. Gives me Scrubs x Ted Lasso vibes, which makes sense, as they’re all Bill Lawrence shows.

Also? Killer needle drops.

Art of the Title Breaks Down The Credits to SHE-HULK

Art of the Title:

The main-on-end title sequence of the show, created by studio Aspect with illustrations by Toronto-based artist Kagan McLeod, takes the form of vibrant courtroom sketches that seem to paint themselves. The scenes aren’t moments from the show but rather a bonus, scenes that happen outside of the scripted episodes. The vivid drawings show Jen/She-Hulk and her cousin the Hulk, as played by guest star Mark Ruffalo, shopping for spandex and cheese puffs in bulk, discussing the relationship history of certain Avengers, and generally going about their larger-than-lives. As the Aspect team and McLeod discuss below, arriving at this illustration style and creating unique drawings for each episode’s ending proved to be no mean feat.

Art of the Title is a great website, and this is an awesome break down of the very cool credits customized for each episode of the recent Disney+ series.

Of note: the artist who did the illustrations, Kagen McLeod, who is interviewed here, did one of my favorite indie books of some time, Infinite Kung-Fu.

The 2023 X-Men Vote Ends TODAY

Marvel.com:

One of the things done with the latest run of X-Men which I’ve really enjoyed is the implementation of a fan vote of a member for the team.

Part of the annual Hellfire Gala in universe, the last X-Men vote resulted in Firestar joining the (frankly, excellent) Gerry Duggan run of X-Men, and your pick will be reflected in the next lineup.

The available options this year are Cannonball, Dazzler, Frenzy, Jubilee, Juggernaut, and Prodigy, and per an update yesterday,  Cannonball and Juggernaut (my pick) are neck and neck for the final pick.

If that wasn’t enough, awesome comics website AIPT decided to ask the current crop of X-Writers to give their picks, so vote early, vote often, and let’s see who ends up becoming a part of the next X-Team!

What's The Most Successful Movie of All Time?

Information is Beautiful:

Well, it depends how you look at it. We took a data-dive to find out.

Very cool, interactive presentation of an ongoing debate between movie fans.

While the first graph focuses on just the box office success, we get some surprises when the data is changed to look at values based on inflation, based on return on budget, and what happens when you move the budgets to an even playing field.

In short — we’ve been ignoring The Exorcist for far too long.

I think I’ve officially decided: my mid-life crisis will be getting into MLS (maybe Premier League too?) and POSSIBLY F1. Thanks for your time.

KING OF THE HILL To Return for Hulu

James Gunn and Peter Safran Reveal DC Studios Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters

Instagram Co-Founders Return with Artifact, An App Focused on Text! Links! And News!

Wake up, Film Twitter! Uniqlo is dropping a Sofia Coppola collection. Really.

Tonight’s goof: The logistics of depositing a giant novelty check.

Baltimore’s own PLRLS have an awesome new album, Curses, out today. It’s been brightening my morning. RIYL: B-52s, Talking Heads, Other 80’s Post-Punk.

Shout out to the person in the doctor’s office waiting area who pulled down their mask to sneeze. 🙄

🎶 BEEEEE KAYYYYYY HAVE IT YOUR WAYYY 🎶

I don’t need another video game system and my TV doesn’t have the extra HDMI port for it anyway, but I’ll be damned if there aren’t days I look with jealous eyes at the Xbox and the GamePass.

Hey, brands who pulled your ads from Twitter? Just an FYI that Facebook is gonna give the guy who incited violence on the capital his account back. Do with that what you will.

So, you’re telling me that Tom Taylor, who is killing it on Nightwing is going to be writing the new Titans book? Yeah, I’m down for that.

Oh boy! Goldeneye 007 comes to Switch on FRIDAY!

It strikes me that remote starters probably took a major hit in sales once more of us started working from home.

My favorite Mastodon app, Ivory, is officially out in the App Store. It’s by the amazing team at Tapbots, who brought us Tweetbot (RIP). If you loved Tweetbot, it’s like having an old friend back.

A well-deserved ELEVEN Oscar nominations for Everything Everywhere All At Once this morning.

I didn’t have “One-half of Daft Punk returns with a solo orchestral album” on my bingo card, that’s for sure.

Ambulance, 2022 - ★★★

I’ve been quietly focusing on my health for a bit. I’m seeing results. I am happy.

Tickets for the 200th Super Art Fight show, which is also our 15th Anniversary Show(!) are on-sale NOW!

I hate being a broken record, but what does it say about a platform you’ve created when you need to remind people to use it less?

It's A New Ghostface For A New Era in the SCREAM VI Trailer

Apple TV+ Has Me Dead-To-Rights with the Retrotastic HELLO TOMORROW!

Jason Segel and Harrison Ford are SHRINKING for Apple TV+

Dope! My favorite food tracking app just gets better.

Vulture has profiled, in my humble opinion, the best part of current SNLthe surreal and insane humor of Sarah Sherman.

Surprise! New Apple products have been announced featuring upgrades to the M2 chip, including a new MacBook Pro and Mac Mini.

This lengthy piece on The Verge discussing the state of Twitter since Musk’s takeover is:

  • An incredible piece of reporting
  • Pretty damned depressing

With that, still a must read. Kudos to The Verge, New York Magazine and the Platformer team.

The Galaxy's Favorite Father + Son Duo Returns in THE MANDALORIAN Season 3 Trailer

Headline of the Year nominee, just 16 days in: “Scientists steer lightning bolts with lasers for the first time”.

Fighting the urge to buy an Apple Studio Display / sell my current display, display arm, speakers, webcam and USB-C dock on eBay.

I can’t help but feel like selling the display would be a pain in the ass online.

This is definitely not going to be the last AI art related lawsuit. Keep an eye on how this goes, friends.

Time to play: Do you know who directed this new McDonald’s ad for the UK?

I have to be honest, removing Tweetbot from my personal laptop’s dock today kinda bummed me out.

New blast-o-rama. newsletter written and ready to go for tomorrow AM. Not on the list? Join here.

Running back one of my favorite albums of last year – big and loud in my good headphones – And So I Watch You From Afar’s Jettison.

I blame AGDQ, but I finally have started FFVII Remake as of today.

JEOPARDY! MASTERS Set For Primetime ABC Airing

Michael Ausiello, TVLine:

ABC on Wednesday announced that it has picked up Jeopardy! Masters, a Ken Jennings-hosted primetime spinoff that will find the six highest-ranked, current Jeopardy! contestants facing off in a Champions League style event.

The six MVPs vying for the title of Jeopardy! Masters Champion will be Matt Amodio, Sam Buttrey, Andrew He, James Holzhauer, Mattea Roach and Amy Schneider.

Where my fellow Jeopardy! heads at?

This should be a great competition. I don’t think I’ve spoken of it, but I’ve been pushing for the past few years to try out for Jeopardy!, and while I haven’t gotten the call yet, my audition tests seem to get better each year.

The 6 contestants chosen are an incredible crop — I just wish we could’ve seen other Jeopardy! notables get a play-in round, like Brad Rutter, Buzzy Cohen, Austin  Rogers, Julia Collins and so on.

Steven Soderbergh released his 2022 watch list, in case you wanna compare your movie + TV habits to a Hollywood director.

Interesting: a bunch of the movies I read about in Quentin Tarantino’s Cinema Speculation are on sale on iTunes this week.

Ari Aster Sends Joaquin Phoenix on An Adventure in BEAU IS AFRAID

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuiWDn976Ek

YouTube:

RELEASE DATE: April 21, 2023

DIRECTOR: Ari Aster

CAST: Joaquin Phoenix, Nathan Lane, Amy Ryan, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Zoe Lister-Jones, Armen Nahapetian, with Parker Posey and Patti LuPone

I have to say, the direction after Hereditary and Midsommar for Ari Aster I expected was not…“Weirdly uplifting, surreal adventure movie".

Zag on em, Ari.

Beau is Afraid hits theaters on April 21st, 2023.

I will say this: watching AGDQ has made me want to live like it’s 1999 and download a ton of tracks from OCRemix.

INSIDE JOB Cancelled By Netflix, Despite Season 2 Pickup

Variety:

Now, look, I will personally admit to being part of the problem here as I had yet to watch the two parts of Inside Job released so far, despite being a big fan of Gravity Falls.

And I’ll be the first to admit that the era of “peak television" has resulted in there being more shows on the market than even professional critics can keep up with.

But between cancellations like this, after a renewal was approved, cancellation of shows mid-airing/mid-production, and well, whatever HBO Max is doing, this is a dark time to be a creative, full stop. And I don’t know the solution.

Except…maybe not chasing the funnel of money loss that is an exclusive, streaming-only, revenue system?

David Ehrlich’s annual “Best Films of…” Video is up for 2022. Enjoy!

Always a good design situation when you have to design reminders for your user-base to, uh, sleep.

Letterboxd’s 2022 Year-in-Review is up. Always a fun read.

Spontaneously shattering camera glass” sounds bad, Google.

Hmm, is my living room configured properly for me to do Kickboxing workouts?

Jonah Hill Is Coming To Dinner with Eddie Murphy in YOU PEOPLE

Nicholas Cage and Nicholas Holt Team Up in RENFIELD

Is anyone really excited about PlayStation VR 2? Or is it, like most VR products, a niche device set to be appreciated by a subset of hardcore fans?

Today I learned there is an episode of late-era The Simpsons which is a full Inception redux. And it’s not even a Treehouse of Horror segment.

I can’t say that I expected Them! to be on the remake block, let alone being the proper feature directorial debut of Michael Giacchino, but given how good Werewolf By Night was, screw it, I’m in.

Congrats to the QA team at ZeniMax Studios. Now, may the rest of the industry follow your lead.

The Menu – one of my favorite movies of 2022 – is now available for streaming on HBO Max / purchase on PVOD. Recommended!

The Smile is the latest band to play an NPR Tiny Desk Concert. Enjoy!

Very cool music news: De La Soul’s catalog will finally be available on streaming this March. Gonna have to blast “Me, Myself and I” to celebrate.

This is absolutely wild – Apple has a patent in the works for an Apple Pencil that samples colors FROM REAL WORLD OBJECTS.

Digging in with one of my favorite annual podcast traditions: Bullseye’s annual stand-up round-up. Enjoy!

2023: Let’s do this.

Tenet is a messy movie, with lots of problems, but I’ll be dammed if the prologue isn’t incredibly captivating.

For the record, I’m a massive fan of the current trend of BlancPosting, and I hope it continues for some time.

Well, if THIS is really it for Twitter… 🫡

Whoa, a Hokusai LEGO set!

Kate Beaton’s DUCKS is as lovely a book as you’d expect. A true masterwork.

The Banshees of Inisherin, 2022 - ★★★★

Finally started reading ONCE & FUTURE. What a yarn of a comic! Just in time for the final trade dropping on Wednesday.

CRIMBO

Violent Night, 2022 - ★★★½

Strange World, 2022 - ★★★½

I feel comfortable posting this now. My favorite movies of 2022.

Looks like DotEmu added a bunch of tweaks to TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, including custom game modes. A reminder: it’s easily one of the best games of the year for anyone who grew up loving the old Konami arcade game.

A stark reminder that for as awful as Meta is, TikTok MIGHT be worse.

Bless, the winners of the 2022 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards are here.

If you’ve ever wondered why we’re in a society filled with the super-rich, The Pudding has a killer explainer on the topic.

The Woman King, 2022 - ★★★★

Sounds like the whole ad-supported Netflix thing isn’t working out great.

For the record, I’m a privileged snob who pays for the ad-free version of every streaming service I can.

I’ve gotta be honest, with every new update video – like today’s upgrade build – Retro Game Corps sure has made me interested in buying + customizing a Miyoo Mini!

And given their price, maybe a few for friends…if they’d just remain in stock.

Great news: Kickstarter is also on the side of non-AI generated art.

There Goes Movie Trailers Which Over Promise

Variety:

U.S. District Judge Stephen Wilson issued a ruling in a case involving “Yesterday,“ the 2019 film about a world without the Beatles.

Two Ana de Armas fans filed a lawsuit in January, alleging that they had rented the movie after seeing de Armas in the trailer, only to discover that she was cut out of the final film.

Universal sought to throw out the lawsuit, arguing that movie trailers are entitled to broad protection under the First Amendment. The studio’s lawyers argued that a trailer is an “artistic, expressive work" that tells a three-minute story conveying the theme of the movie, and should thus be considered “non-commercial" speech.

But Wilson rejected that argument, finding that a trailer is commercial speech and is subject to the California False Advertising Law and the state’s Unfair Competition Law.

Legit, this could truly change how movie trailers are produced.

Happy Holidays, Marketing Teams!

The 2022 Hater's Guide to the Williams Sonoma Catalog Is Here!

Drew Magary, Defector:

An annual tradition which makes my Defector support worth it every year.

A Sobering Look at the Struggles of Musicians, in the Age of Streaming and COVID Touring

Jenn Pelly, Pitchfork:

To be a fan of modern music is to see entangled crises of mental health and economic sustainability that are increasingly conspicuous, and, if not new, then no longer possible to ignore. Since 2019, an uptick of non-profit and research-based initiatives have emerged to address the mental health dimension of this sobering reality and to offer more immediate support to musicians and touring crew members. But the dozens of artists and experts interviewed for this story believe that systemic change to both the music industry and to society, including universal healthcare, is what’s needed most.

An absolutely necessary read for any fan of music.

I fear that this same concern is coming for artists of all levels, between AI art, the consolidation of entertainment studios, and cost cutting all the way down.

Support the things you love, folks. Support the things you love.

It turns out that John Cleese in 2022 is useful in at least one way.

I don’t know about you, fellow comic nerds, but ‘Stark Sentinels’ sounds cool as hell to me.

I think $200 is a ridiculous price for a video game controller. But the DualSense Edge sounds like it’s worth it, if you’re that kinda gamer.

Alright folks, you asked for it, you’ll get it. I will gladly become the CEO of Twitter.

Once I’ve negotiated my massive golden parachute, which I will need upon my rapid ouster.

…maybe I shouldn’t have said the second half of that sentence…

The Full Trailer for OPPENHEIMER Has Arrived

A fine reminder to my friends with projects, stores, etc – if you don’t have a mailing list, you’re shortchanging yourself. Like your own website, you own it, BUT! The updates go to your followers, versus then having to hit your site/socials/store.

Caught the end of the World Cup Final. That was amazing.

New blast-o-rama. email locked-and-loaded for 9am Eastern tomorrow. Want to get on the mailing list? Head to buttondown.email/blast0ram… and sign up!

Avatar: The Way of Water, 2022 - ★★★½

Can’t sleep, so I find myself already going down rabbit holes on Mastodon. Maybe it sticks this time?

Whoever had the Monkey’s Paw and said, “Donald Glover Spider-Man Movie”, I blame you here.

Welp, lock me in for the Barbie half of the Barbie / Oppenheimer double feature.

Christmas came early: We got a new jam from The Protomen today.

Oh cool, Twitter banned Mastodon. Which reminds me, if you need a Mastodon invite, ping me, mutuals!

And this is why I’m not entirely regretting taking the next two weeks off.

The problem with these lists and these rankings and these favorites is that they circumvent discovery—instead, they dictate. The reason people get excited by word-of-mouth recommendations—rarer and rarer these days—is because they come with a pulse. A list doesn’t. A list is assigned by an organization. A list is anemic. A list removes the desire that you started with. A list is fake in the way that finding something out for yourself is not. Imagine if we treated art with the same richness as we treat sports, with the same nuance with which we consider players (Moneyball notwithstanding). But there is no goal in art; it is impossible to quantify until an artist transcends the work and becomes a commodity. That is when a Van Gogh becomes currency. Or a Banksy is stolen off a wall like wad of cash. In a 2007 talk on the “aestheticized equity” of art, Professor Donald Kuspit described the evaluation of art as a rigged game: “Paying a certain amount of money for a work of art can be compared to placing a bet on a number in roulette. It is in fact less of a gamble, for the more money one places on the art number the more one guarantees that it will win the art game. Big money guarantees big art historical returns—good art historical fortune as well as a very good economic future. It is a way of controlling the game. It is a way of fixing the spin of fortune’s wheel so that it is always in one’s favor.”

Loved this bit from Soraya Roberts' piece about the latest Sight & Sound Greatest Films of all Time list, over at Defector.

“Oh boy! I got paid today!” [pays monthly bills, moves money into savings] Well, that was short-lived.

Your latest twist in the DC Studios revamp – James Gunn is writing a new Superman movie which reboots the character, and will NOT star Henry Cavill.

I guess I should get ready for a The Fabelmans sequel sometime down the line then, yeah?

Amazon Orders GOD OF WAR TV Series

The Hollywood Reporter:

The streamer has greenlit a series based on the award-winning PlayStation game God of War. The Wheel of Time’s Rafe Judkins will serve as showrunner on the adaptation, and Oscar nominees Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby (Children of Men, Iron Man, The Expanse) are writing and executive producing with Judkins.

Sony Pictures Television and Amazon Studios are producing God of War in association with PlayStation Productions.

ahem

BOY

Now that I’ve said that, I think the idea of a God of War series is quite the layup. The recent PS4/PS5 installments have felt like episodic TV series as it is, so I can see the translation being a straight-forward one. We wish em the best of luck.

Got tickets for Death Cab + Postal Service in September – lawn seats, but still stoked.

Like any good millennial, I’ve got my presale code for the Death Cab for Cutie/The Postal Service tour ready to rock at 10am.

Adam Driver vs. Aliens In Our First Look at 65

www.youtube.com/watch

Just kidding, it’s not aliens! It’s DINOSAURS!

Getting serious Returnal vibes from this.

The SCREAM 6 Teaser Trailer Takes a Bite Out of the Big Apple

www.youtube.com/watch

I see we’re going full Jason Takes Manhattan now.

Note to self: Watch Scream (2022) already.

The Fabelmans, 2022 - ★★★★½

Interesting twist in the Patty Jenkins/DC Studios story – she just took to Twitter to refute all of it, and affirm that she’s back working on her Star Wars movie, Rogue Squadron.

Before I finalize my “Best of the Year” list, I need to watch…

  • Tár
  • The Woman King
  • The Fablemans
  • The Banshees of Inisherin
  • Decision to Leave
  • Babylon
  • Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
  • Avatar: The Way of Water

What haven’t you seen which you want to check out before the year is over?

Oh boy. A bill has been introduced to…ban TikTok in the US. What on Earth will people re-post to Instagram for engagement now?

Speaking of Apple, in case your devices haven’t told you yet, updates are out for iOS/iPadOS/macOS/tvOS/HomePod/AppleWatch/etc. including the new Freeform app!

Kinda wild. Rumors are that due to the EU regulations coming, Apple is looking into an official way to allow third-party app stores on iOS devices.

Of COURSE Vince McMahon is back in the news for continuing to be a horrible person and TRYING TO RETURN TO WWE.

The SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE Trailer Is Here!

www.youtube.com/watch

After what has felt like ages since the original teaser dropped, Sony has finally taken the veil off of the second installment of the Miles Morales Spider-Verse Saga!

The trailer itself builds off of some key moments from — and the score of — the first film, but remains a visual stunner, and has some key frames I’ll definitely be freezing to understand, including a spiral of alternate Spider-Man, and a first look at this version of Spider-Woman.

The first film was one of my favorite theatrical experiences when it released back in  December 2018, so suffice to say, I’m chomping at the bit for the release of this movie. Between gorgeous animation, a stellar voice cast, and it honoring the legacy of my favorite fictional character of all-time, I’m firmly in the audience for this film…even as a 38-year-old man. 😬

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse hits theaters on June 2, 2023, followed by Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse on March 29, 2024.

I’m sure that this is a great sign for the Crypto market.

This Reebok x Street Fighter collab is pretty damn rad.

Spider-Man 2 has been made real. The sacrifice of Dr. Otto Octavious will never be forgotten.

The 2022 Black List Has Been Revealed

Studio Ghibli to Return with HOW DO YOU LIVE in 2023

Jordan Raup, The Film Stage:

The project, titled Kimi-tachi wa Dō Ikiru ka (which translates to How Do You Live?), has been set for a July 14, 2023 release in Japan, which hopefully means a U.S. release is in store before the end of 2023. The film is inspired by Genzaburo Yoshino’s novel of the same name, which follows a 15-year-old boy named Koperu and his uncle, who move to a new neighborhood, as the kid deals with bullying, poverty, education, work, courage, and progress.

A copy of the teaser poster is above.

I’m always excited for a new Miyazaki film, even though at age 81, the odds of us seeing another is getting lower and lower.

I hope this makes it to the states before the end of the year!

Big day on VOD. Both The Fablemans and The Banshees of Inisherin dropped. Excited to see where they land on my Best Of… list for the year.

A very happy birthday to my amazing wife and partner in life, Sam!

Well, I did it. I uninstalled Tweetbot from my phone. Now, pretty much anything you see from me on Twitter, unless I break my streak, will be filtered as coming from my microblog (marty.day) which gets automatically re-posted to Twitter/Mastodon. End of an era.

Rewatching Nope. Just as good the second time at home as it was in theaters.

Hey! The latest edition of my newsletter is locked and loaded for tomorrow morning. Want it in your inbox? Sign up here.

What I Liked From The Game Awards 2022

OH MY GOD THE POSTAL SERVICE AND DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE ARE TOURING TOGETHER I KNOW THE SINGER IS THE SAME FOR BOTH

Mike Flanagan to Adapt Stephen King's THE DARK TOWER as Series + Feature for Amazon Studios

BLACK ADAM Bust: The End of the DCEU Begins Here

As a strong advocate for personal data privacy, all I have to say to the latest Apple iCloud encryption changes is: Bravo.

Do A Powerbomb! #7 ends the series perfectly, both completely absurd yet acting as a nice bow on the storytelling. Can’t recommend the trade enough when it drops in March.

The creator of Stardew Valley made a music video for a track off of the latest Alvvays album. Chocolate, meet Peanut Butter.

In addition to being a great weather app, Carrot is now a dating sim.

Wanna do Karaoke at home? Great news. Apple Music will let you.

Really enjoyed this interview with the writers of The Menu, which, warning – DOES contain spoilers.

Pixelmator continues to be the best value in image editing in the biz…as now you can even edit video.

I am Marty Day. I am 38 years old. And I’d like to own a tricycle.

Surprise! Here’s the GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 Trailer!

The Trailer for INDIANA JONES 5 - THE DIAL OF DESTINY Has Arrived

#FastFoodArmsRace: Hello Fresh Says Hello To Fresh Hell As They Make ELF Spaghetti Real

BEAST WARS Hits The Big Screen In New TRANSFORMERS Teaser Trailer

GET READY FOR YOUR 2023 MOVIE OF THE YEAR: COCAINE BEAR.

OK, OK, I’ll add Marvel’s Midnight Suns to my wishlist.

At least two times now I’ve been in the theater with an audience who has not seen – nor knows about – the trailer for M3gan, and it’s a wonderful delight seeing people react to it.

The Menu, 2022 - ★★★★

Glass Onion, 2022 - ★★★★½

Once again, the team at Tools and Toys has pulled together a great annual holiday wishlist. Maybe you’ll be adding some things from it to your personal list this year, as I do every year.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, 2022 - ★★★½

Black Adam, 2022 - ★½

I don’t often invoke the man’s name, unlike many Apple fans, but I feel like Steve Jobs would absolutely force the team to revert back to the page flip animation in Apple Books on iOS 16.

Absolutely fascinating profile of James Cameron by GQ ahead of Avatar: The Way of Water. I enjoy the casual admission that the movie needs to be the 3rd or 4th biggest OF ALL TIME to be profitable.

Amsterdam, 2022 - ★★½

Looking over the plans for their “Dawn of DC” event, there are a bunch of books from DC I’m actually excited to read? Wild stuff.

I don’t need or want an Escape From New York remake. That said, the directing trio of Radio Silence kinda rules…

Yes, it’s Pixar anthropomorphizing another thing, but I’ll be damned if the teaser trailer for Elemental isn’t a visual stunner.

Having been at my local Starbucks this morning for “Red Cup Day” without realizing what was occurring, I 1000% sympathize for the workers. It was absolute pandemonium for some cheap, plastic cups. I would’ve skipped today had I known.

Whatever Lionsgate does, please let them get Yuzo Koshiro for the Streets of Rage movie score.

Continuing to use Twitter via a 3rd party app is interesting. Since your timeline is reverse chronological and you get no ads, you’re sort of shielded from the garbage fire of the rest of the site, now more than ever. As always, once Tweetbot’s gone, I’m gone.

Today, Conan O’Brien launched a station on SiriusXM. The sketch posted on his YouTube page today of him getting a jingle for the station is on par with some of his better remotes from the late night show.

Hearing that Damien Chazelle’s Babylon is divisive, honestly, excites me more. Gotta go for big swings, even if people don’t like ‘em.

God of War: Ragnarok is very good so far (5 hrs. in). Though I definitely agree with a podcast I listened to this weekend, where they recommend breaking up the story quests with side quests, as the story quests are dense with walk-and-talk segments.

New John Wick looks good, even though I feel like the series is getting SLIGHTLY long in the tooth.

The only way this AMC/Zoom team-up is OK by me is if your company then shows you a movie. But even then…pretty dystopian.

OK, pre-ordered God of War: Ragnarok, got tickets for Glass Onion…now I just need to figure out when I’m going to see Wakanda Forever and my big-time November entertainment is set.

In case you weren’t already sold on it, here’s ONE MORE trailer for the Knives Out sequel, Glass Onion.

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, 2022 - ★★★★

Great interview with the Marvel Snap team who, well, really should be proud of the incredibly addicting game they’ve created, along with the not-gross way they’ve monetized it.

A reminder: No matter what anyone tells you, it’s not actually the holiday season until this ad starts playing.

See How They Run, 2022 - ★★★½

What Music Discovery is Like in 2022

The Lone Take About The Twitter Sale Worth Reading

Watch later

Add to queue

Add to queue">Wario.

Tonight, 11 year old me would be very proud. Well, he’d probably also have questions like: “where’s our hair?” and “why are we fat?” and “why is our beard so grey?”, but he’d be proud, as tonight, I’m seeing Weird Al live. Let’s freakin' go.

I’ve been playing Marvel Snap the past two days. Like The Verge attests, it’s a damn fun time.

Oh boy, the trailer for Creed III looks REAL REAL GOOD. Jonathan Majors looking like a STAR.

So, Apple just announced a bunch of new products.

The new Apple TV 4K looks like a decent specs bump (and the price has dropped!), but as someone rocking a 1st-gen Apple TV 4K combined with last year’s new Siri remote, I see no need to upgrade.

The new standard iPads look nice (I dig the colors!), and both the new landscape camera and the Smart Keyboard Folio are slick, but its a shame that, at least, the M1 couldn’t come along. Also – making it so that you can still only use the 1st Gen Apple Pencil and you need a USB-C dongle to make that work, pretty weak.

Cool to see the M2 hit the new iPad Pros, but that seems to be the only notable change. You don’t get the new landscape camera, nor the new keyboard folio, basically, it’s an odd transition year for all iPads…including the iPad Air, which once again, I wonder who it’s for.

I was ready to consider trading in my 2020 iPad Pro and moving forward with a new one today, but honestly, nothing here gets me excited. Saving my money for another day.

Do I need a Steam Deck? God no. Do I want a Steam Deck? Yes. (See also: stuff like an Apple Studio Display, an Apple Studio itself, etc., etc.)

And that’s roll credits on Tunic. Now to get the manual pages I’m missing…

This might be me as a late-30’s gamer speaking, but the built-in hints for PS5 games really are great, both as a leg up for those of us with limited game time, and as a reminder of what the hell the last thing you were doing was.

This morning I learned that Ted Leo had released 3 new EP’s exclusively on Bandcamp. AND it’s Bandcamp Friday. Suffice to say, picked ‘em up.

So. This is 38.

Yes, this season of SNL will indeed be a rebuilding year, but I was the perfect audience for this spoof of the Nicole Kidman/AMC ad.

I’m still not sure if they’re going to be able to thread the needle here, but that makes two amazing trailers for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Finally giving the new Death Cab for Cutie a listen today. Great album, but “Foxglove Through The Clearcut” might be the boldest step forward for them in ages. song.link/us/i/1621…

World’s Fair Co. Teams with Invisible Creature for "Stories of Our Future" Poster Series

On Losing Yourself in a Game, Or, Early Thoughts on TUNIC on PS5

Tunic. It’s a VERY good game.

Identity Theft By Way of A Job Interview: The Wave of the Future

Is the Future of Movie Going In Its Past?

NASA Successfully Crashes Ship Into Asteroid

MSCHF is at it again, with KEY4ALL

We Need To Talk About How None Of You Are Talking About CONFESS, FLETCH

Do Revenge, 2022 - ★★★½

Patton Oswalt: We All Scream, 2022 - ★★★½

Confess, Fletch, 2022 - ★★★★

Elvis, 2022 - ★★½

Bipolar Rock 'N Roller, 2018 - ★★★½

Bummed to not be going to SPX this weekend (husbandly duties call), but I hope everyone who DOES go has a great time. See you next year, I hope!

Give the railroad people what they want.

Thanks, Mgmt.

The key art for the new Zelda game is gorgeous.

I’m very concerned that the Nintendo Switch needs more JRPGs.

Fire Emblem feels like the troll option for Nintendo. I’m sure it has its audience, but I genuinely tune out. Haha

Nintendo Direct in the morning and a Sony State of Play in the evening. Big day for video game nerds tomorrow.

Well with last night’s reactions, I’m really gonna need to see Glass Onion, The Menu and The Fabelmans this Fall. TO THE CINEMA!~

Thor: Love and Thunder, 2022 - ★★★½

Went to Waffle House for breakfast. Now, to nap.

A really great piece on Kate Beaton, ahead of the release of her new book Ducks, up now on Vulture.

Paul Rudd’s read of “Panda Watch” is one of my favorite under-appreciated bits from Anchorman.

So I’m gonna guess…

  • iPhone 14 and its variants announced today
  • Pre-Order on Friday, September 9th
  • iOS 16 hits on Tuesday, September 13th
  • iPhone 14 available on Friday, September 16th

OK, Instagram, if you’re gonna force audio playback, I’m going to delete you.

Anyone else watching Welcome to Wrexham? What a joy of a show so far.

This is my kind of internet: a deep dive on the ubiquity of a 90’s era ad which has a line read which won’t leave your head…Sears' Air Conditioning “You’ll Call NOW” Ad.

If you, like me, enjoy the annual deluge of Fall foods, may I recommend not sleeping on the Pumpkin Spice Cream Smoothie at Wawa? Might be my sneaky favorite…

On one hand: YES! New Gorillaz album!

On the other: Not until February.

Definitely excited for this Oral History of Comic Con book coming out next week.

I wondered if anything would walk in the footsteps of Walk Hard.

I didn’t expect it to be the “Weird” Al Yankovic movie.

The Splatoon 3 Splatfest rules.

But! If you disconnect from a bout, you’re a chump, and you cause all of us to get kicked back to lobby.

Oh these are dangerously delicious.

OK, the new Fletch movie looks freaking fantastic.

It’s a movie about movies with THAT CAST and directed by Sam Mendes AND Roger Deakins on cinematography AND Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross doing the score. LETS FREAKIN GOOOOOOO

Holy Hanna that movie ruled. Tied for fav of the year so far. Damn.

Top Gun: Maverick, 2022 - ★★★★★

FINALLY watching Top Gun: Maverick, thanks to its VOD release. What a gorgeous movie. And the sound mixing is LOUD. Dang.

DC League of Super-Pets, 2022 - ★★★½

Great news, the countdown to Glass Onion (aka Knives Out 2) can officially begin. It hits Netflix on December 23.

The world is absolutely bleak some days. On other days, I read stories like this and think, “There’s a way out of here, yeah?”

Props to the Bing Bong gag in She-Hulk.

Hanging out with cats on the couch, listening to podcasts. That’s a damn fine Sunday.

Y’all, I just watched the first episode of The Rehearsal and it has me all shook up. Holy wow.

Note to self: get ready to watch the launch on August 29th.

OK, so I’m not the only one looking at the August release slate and going, “There’s absolutely NOTHING in theaters.

Shit. It’s only Tuesday, isn’t it?

Prey, 2022 - ★★★★

Well, my weekend of awesome movies continues, as Prey absolutely ruled ass. Amber Midthunder is a STAR, and this really should’ve been BIG and LOUD in a theater.

Y’all, I could stay up all night reading people’s takes on the themes and symbolism of Nope.

Nope, 2022 - ★★★★½

Oh damn. Nope RULED! I can’t wait to watch that a billion more times.

Bullet Train is a star-studded, ultra-violent, incredibly stylish, absolute comic book of a movie. What a joy!

Last Fall, I customized one of those grey market handheld retro game systems, and got it filled with a ton of ROMs.

Now that I’m dealing with vision issues and RSI in my wrists, I’m thinking of building a RetroPie setup.

Now…where the hell do I buy a Raspberry Pi in 2022 that has them in stock for not an insane amount of money?

My To-Watch List this weekend:

  • The Sandman (Netflix)
  • Carter (Netflix)
  • Prey (Hulu)
  • Bullet Train (Theaters)

…and I still haven’t seen Thor or Nope yet!

The year is 2022. I am 37 years old. And I am enamored with a concept design for a goddamned CONTACTS app.

FYI: Licorice Pizza is now on Amazon Prime. Minus one, horrible, absolutely baffling choice, this was one of my favorite movies of last year.

Oh wow. Showtime put all 4 episodes of We Need To Talk About Cosby up on their YouTube page for free.

I’m glad someone else said it.

BRING BACK THE ERA OF THE GAMESHARK/ACTION REPLAY/GAME GENIE. Shit was fun.

Watching a movie on my MacBook. Genuinely surprised by how GOOD the speakers are on this thing.

…I should watch more movies this way when I’m bullshitting on the web.

[sigh] I guess it’s starting to look like it’s time to google “best NAS for Plex” and “best newsgroup subscriptions”, eh?

The trailer for The Banshees of Inisherin, or, “Hey! I need to re-watch In Bruges!”

Wow, I did not think that WB would can the Batgirl movie this far into production.

My tin-foil hat theory? They’re gonna can The Flash next, since both that and the Batgirl movie were going to tie together.

Universal Pictures, bless you for deciding to give Daniels all the money.

It feels a lot like a version of The Raid, with Daffy Duck cast in the lead role.

Welp, I’m totally sold on Bullet Train with Polygon’s review.

Dang. That trailer for Star Wars: Andor is looking pretty solid. Truly stunning visuals, and a vibe which makes it feel more like a prestige sci-fi drama, versus a bombastic blockbuster. Here’s hoping it’s good!

audience of 100.

audience of 500.

audience of 500.

audience of 2200.

yeah, that’s a good Otakon in the books.

Meta: Updating Their Apps To Account For Their Own Dumbass Decisions, Since 2005®

Big news, fellow Jeopardy! fans: the host moving forward is…both of ‘em.

The Marvel #SDCC panel sounds like some very odd decisions (why are the Phases split the way they are?) matched with cool sounding projects (GOTG Vol. 3, new Daredevil series) but the teaser trailer for Wakanda Forever really feels like something special.

I’ll be damned. Netflix may’ve really pulled it off with The Sandman. #SDCC2022

I don’t know how the rest of you are, but for me, when the lottery gets high enough, I buy ONE ticket.

For me, the daydreams are worth the $2.

This oral history (which contains SPOILERS) for TMNT: The Last Ronin is a great read about a great comic that I really enjoyed digging into last week. Recommend both!

I appreciate the modern era of things like Twitter and Instagram specifically during events like SDCC. Otherwise, these are pipes which should get shut down.

OK D&D movie. I guess we will give you a shot. Even if you’re probably going to be a forgettable romp.

Today in Headlines which have to be AI generated: SOUJA BOY helps LIMEWIRE relaunch as NFT MARKETPLACE

Stray is a pretty rad game so far. But for our cats? It’s a religious experience.

It’s not often that I see a trailer for an action movie and go, “wait, how did they shoot that.” Then I watched the trailer for Netflix’s upcoming movie Carter. Dang.

Watched The Bob’s Burgers Movie last night. What an absolute delight.

I understand why it didn’t make a huge splash in theaters, but gosh, if you like the show (and why wouldn’t you?) spin it up on Hulu/HBO Max/VOD now.

As cynical as I am about a Lord of the Rings TV series, watching the new teaser trailer, there’s no doubt that Amazon got their money’s worth.

I’d like to thank Twitter for going down on my first day back to work after vacation. It’s like the universe wants me to focus my attention.

It’s kinda wild to me that eight years after his death, Casey Kasem’s Top 40 Countdowns are still syndicated and hit the airwaves every weekend. Classics or not.

I had heard much praise for Dicey Dungeons, but had yet to pick it up. It just came to iOS today, and I’ll be damned if it isn’t the perfect mobile game.

The new LEGO Bowser is, frankly, an incredible piece of engineering and I can’t believe it’s coming out as a general release.

An online radio station based in my backyard? I’m gonna have to give this a spin.

Just got a massive urge to go to an amusement park.

This reference is only going to hit for some, but…

Neon White is the most “I-would’ve-imported-this-for-my-Dreamcast-and-not-shut-the-hell-up-about-it” game I’ve played in a long time. This rules.

way to go, neighbors setting off fireworks outside during a severe thunderstorm

Shout out Nancy giving Ripley in Aliens vibes in the Stranger Things 4 finale.

I never had a name for this, but I can’t recommend a “Feeds Reboot” enough. Your internet experience will be better for it.

Sure, Geico’s ads are a mixed bag, but the Animal in the Attic one? That’s my jam, folks.

Provided that we make it to 2028 (😬), we might at least have Sasuke/Ninja Warrior in the Olympics to look forward to.

Running back 2002 this morning with a personal classic, Hot Rod Circuit’s At Nature’s Mercy.

Oh my gosh. These new Scott Pilgrim action figures look perfect.

The new Jimmy Eat World single is pretty damn good. New album soon, I hope?

Trying to be a better human in 2022 is correcting your own pronoun usage while catching friends up on the latest Ezra Miller drama.

I’m not smart when it comes to the economy, but it’s pretty wild how “The Great Resignation” and another recession came so close together.

In short, Street Fighter 6’s “Modern Control Mode” means one thing…I’M COMIN' BACK TO FIGHTIN' GAMES BAYBEE

Distopian doesn’t even begin to describe how bad the Meta TV ad extoling the virtues of Personalized Advertising is.

I don’t care much for JKR either, but – with today’s news about the voice cast of the LOTR Anime, I’m somewhat surprised there has not been a Harry Potter anime.

I’d imagine you could just animate the 7 books into a very long shonen series.

Heck yeah. Always excited to see more work from Genndy Tartakovsky.

And that’s it, with these last two eBay sales – minus Ring Fit Adventure (which isn’t available digitally) – I have no more physical video games.

I feel lighter.

The Instagram experience sure has gone downhill. I’m met with “suggested” auto play videos, ads for businesses nowhere near me, and everything seems to just be TikTok reposts.

I think it might be time for me to close up shop there.

“We absolutely loved Squid Game here at Netflix.”

“You got the message then, yeah?”

“Absolutely! Loud and clear! Now, we’ve got another spinoff we’d like to pitch…

OK, what platform are we all buying TMNT on?

I don’t have GamePass, my PS5 has easier/better online play, but there’s a discount on Switch…

Mondo Purchased From Alamo Drafthouse by Funko

Is it odd that, though I don’t own an Xbox, I’m gonna try to make an effort to watch the Xbox/Bethesda presentation today?

Finished Stranger Things 4 Vol. 1 today. Thought they really delivered on the increased scale and scope. Looking forward to Vol. 2 on July 1st!

I love reading analysis of the rumored Roku/Netflix deal where they repeatedly forget to mention that Netflix’s resources were used to develop the first Roku, and Netflix chose to spin off the business.

Watched the first episode of Ms. Marvel. It’s a very fun little show. Exactly the type of storytelling which should be explored as a series, as opposed to a movie. Lower stakes, more heart.

After 15 years of development, we’ve got a trailer for Black Adam, and I can tell you this folks: there are movies coming out this year, and this is one of them.

Apple presented some very cool updates yesterday at WWDC (sadly, my iPad Pro is NOT an M1, so no fun new multitasking for me), but I think the coolest thing shared? The new lock screen customization.

Hope your Monday is going well. I’m here to melt your brain with this Street Fighter II acapella video.

The next Disney movie, Strange World, looks to be 100% my shit.

I think my final, last minute, long shot WWDC 2022 want is that they’re finally updating Apple News to go completely ad-free for News+ subscribers.

The Northman hit Peacock today, so go watch that ASAP if you haven’t already.

America…

Where we can’t get gun legislation…

…but we can get Morbius back in theaters.

If nothing else, the latest Sony State of Play was a win for me since they announced a release date for Tunic on PS5.

Folks, the world may literally be on fire, but!

Furiosa is finally, blissfully, in production.

Shock of shocks, sounds like Diablo Immortal is a great mobile translation absolutely handicapped by IAP.

It’s almost as if being a social media influencer is an unsustainable lifestyle.

Get your money and get out, kids.

Why yes, I did watch the surprise Bo Burnham Inside outtakes video as soon as humanly possible.

A great piece on The Verge about the special Hell that is the Kindle / ComiXology integration.

I echo the writer here, though I spend significant amounts in both stores still.

A great Washington Post piece, by way of SFGate about the new, final Norm Macdonald special which just dropped on Netflix. I look forward to watching it soon.

Just watched the first episode of Obi-Wan. My lone gripe? No concept art credits. I LOVED that on Mando/Boba.

The teaser trailer for the next Disney+ Star Wars series, Andor looks pretty good. Beyond the fact that I adored Rogue One, I love how different this feels to everything else we’ve seen thus far in the D+ series.

Incredible piece on Defector today, about, well, all of this mess.

This is why I pay to support that site every year.

They had me at “Weird Al Graphic Novel”.

Not that I’m necessarily in the market any time soon, but…if one wants an electric car and NOT a Tesla, what’s the one to get?

I hate how often this Onion story is valid.

Sure, it’s the writing/directing team of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Avengers: Endgame, but the new Netflix movie The Gray Man looks like it’s going to sit right next to Red Notice in terms of being a fun, light diversion. I’ll give it a spin.

We’ve got a new Thor: Love and Thunder trailer! I really like the visuals for when Gorr appears.

The new Mission: Impossible trailer hit the web officially (after being leaked over the weekend), and it definitely looks like Tom Cruise is back to trying to die on film. Good times!

The new Amazon Prime documentary about The Kids in the Hall, Comedy Punks, is great. Weird that it’s cut into two episodes, but I can’t recommend it enough (and also, you can run it back with the new season!)

I’m not sure what it takes for Apple to get Netflix to let them add Netflix shows to the TV app queue, but I could really use it. I constantly forget things I actually want to watch on there…

I love this new Essentials Anniversaries idea on Apple Music. This is the sort of content I think of for prime MTV, just, y’know, in audio form.

The new live episode of Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend with Bill Hader is an absolute gem.

Kind of obsessed with this new retailer I learned about, Local Vyntage. They make apparel featuring logos of defunct chain stores of different regions. (Link is for Baltimore.)

The new Marvel/Stan Lee deal reads kind of ghoulish. I sure hope it’s not what I’m thinking…

And lo, there was a She-Hulk trailer. Hits D+ in August.

Only Murders in the Building was a great show, but I’m not entirely sure about a second season. The new teaser is promising, though.

Where was this ASUS/Eva collab when I was a teen weeb?

Thanks, cats. For perhaps finding a way to save the planet.

I just want to say, I know social media is really dismissive, but I’ve enjoyed how much we’ve all rallied around being horned up for the very jacked cast of Thor: Love and Thunder. Bless.

Very big Vanity Fair story on the future plans for Star Wars today. Will be interesting to see what from here comes up at the end of the month at Celebration.

Anyone else remember when 4Chan had a yearly panel at Otakon and it was just this massive thing that drew hundreds, if not a thousand plus, into one of the Baltimore Convention Center’s ballrooms? Very weird to see the results of that domino falling…

Few things make me chuckle to myself more than the moment in all these pharmaceutical ads where they say, “Don’t take [drug you’re just now hearing about] if you’re allergic to [this new drug you’ve never heard of prior to this moment].

Very cool new teaser trailer for Prey, the Hulu-exclusive continuation of the Predator franchise.

Emphasis on teaser.

Hm, the game list of PlayStation Plus games for the first month is pretty dang compelling. It’s not a Game Pass beater, but it could be a decent rival.

This week’s episode of The Besties is a wild listen – a completely randomized power ranking of Star Wars games. Where else are you going to hear a video game podcast shout out the Leapster?

What a stunning list of creators for Amazing Fantasy #1000. Looking forward to reading it and celebrating 60 dang years of the web-head.

It’s New Music Friday, so I am spinning the debut album from The Smile (a new band featuring Radiohead’s Thom Yorke + Johnny Greenwood). Pretty good so far!

One last, secret special filmed by Norm Macdonald? I feel like this will be something to see, for sure.

New overview trailer for Mario Strikers: Battle League.

Game looks very good graphically, and the gameplay seems fun, but only having 10 playable characters feels super small in scope, especially for a full-priced game.

LEGO has gone and done it. They’ve made an Optimus Prime model. And yes, by God, it transforms.

I know I just mentioned how good my Apple Music Favorites Mix was going, but I have to share a track with y’all. “Middle States” by the Appleseed Cast, off the EP of the same name. The end of this song absolutely rules.

I know it’s the purpose of the Apple Music Favorites Mix to be all your jams, but gosh, it’s just HITTING RIGHT today.

I don’t have the wallspace for it, but this new Batman ‘89 print by Florey is just fantastic.

EMPEROR PENGUINS ARE GOING EXTINCT? This environmental shit just got personal.

The iPod is dead. Long live the iPod.

So, uh…Facebook might…heh heh…pivot to video?

The trailer for Avatar 2 is here, and I can say definitively – it’s an Avatar movie.

oh wow, this timed Scott C. Peacemaker print is absolutely stupendous.

Now that we’ve gotten all the streaming services on board, what do we need to do to get cable networks to air movies in their proper aspect ratios?

Love, a nerd.

GREAT SNL last night. Cumberbatch was super game, and holy hell, Arcade Fire sounded fantastic. Might need to get tickets to see them at The Anthem.

I completely missed that Amazon dropped the briefest of Paper Girls teasers yesterday.

Last night, the team behind I Think You Should Leave did an event showcasing cut sketches and extended versions of favorites. Come for the extra Buff Boy details, stay for the description of the best lost SNL sketch, I dunno, ever?

Rest In Peace to one of the greatest comic artists to ever live. Safe travels, George Perez.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was some WILD shit.

This week’s Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend with John Mulaney is a gem. Gonna be doing a bad Sinatra for the rest of the day now.

The best show you may not be watching, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson is getting a third season. Coffin Flop may not be a show, but this will be. Hell yes.

Happy new Arcade Fire album day. I feel like I’m going to be spinning WE quite a bit this weekend.

Netflix producing a sitcom set at Blockbuster, while being the business which killed Blockbuster is some wild stuff.

This Behind the Mac: Skywalker Sound doc is SO COOL. May the 4th be with you, y’all.

I’m far from a “stick up for the big tech company” guy, but seeing what’s going on with Netflix described as a “sinking ship” is ridiculous. Thousands, if not millions, of businesses would KILL to have the situation Netflix does in April 2022.

Proof positive that 2 years of D&D games by way of Super Art Fantasy rubbed off on me: I just backed the KickStarter for the official Blade Runner role playing game.

Well, if you needed any proof of the type of movie Weird: The Al Yankovic Story was going to be…here it is.

You have the Met Gala.

I have the Hellfire Gala.

We are not alike.

Did anyone actually use Podcasts on Facebook, anyway?

There’s a part of my lizard brain which these Marvel vs. Predator variant covers have awakened, perfectly.

That Don’t Worry Darling trailer is a showstopper.

I knew Olivia Wilde had some serious skill after Booksmart hit, but this looks like a major step up.

I didn’t have “a Large Scale Brick-Built Baby Groot replica” on my LEGO bingo card today, no.

This extended Rolling Stone interview with Sam Raimi, though designed to promote Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, is really just a great snapshot of where Raimi is now as a director.

I can’t really say I’m surprised to see that Almost Famous is being turned into a musical, but it also has made me feel incredibly old. 💀

Turned out to be a really lovely day today, the wife and I helped my mom out with some shopping and yard supplies, and the weather is gorgeous. More of this, Spring, more of this.

I guess Jon Watts didn’t want to make four MCU movies in a row?

What awesome and unexpected news! Blake Lively (directing) and Edgar Wright (writing) are teaming up for a film adaptation of Seconds!

Wow. For me at least, Neal Adams is my mind’s-eye version of Batman. Rest in Power.

They had me at “Moon Motorcycle”.

A pretty quiet New Music Friday for me here. Might give the new Bloc Party a spin… What are you listening to today?

It’s frankly stunning how much prediatory / spam email you get from “legal assistance” companies once you submit for a trademark.

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One is such an extra title for the next installment, but I’m all about it.

I’ve got the Spider-Man hardcover of these new Marvel Penguin Classic editions pre-ordered, and I’m very excited for it.

LAIKA (the awesome stop-motion animation studio) is making…a “Neo-noir”? Hell yeah, I’m in.

Sure, it’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit with different properties and a Lonely Island take, but I’m all in for this Chip & Dale: Rescue Rangers movie on Disney+.

The new toys – a high-end action figure, and a die cast ship replica, respectively – from Bandai for Lightyear are really great. Why do I feel like this movie is going to surprise us?

No shocks here: The Batman 2 is happening, complete with Pattinson returning and Reeves back in the director’s chair.

If you’re wishing for something to replace your daily Wordle (and you haven’t moved on to those dang daily movie games I can’t give up), behold! Knotwords. Hits April 28th.

Love this series of movie spoiler paintings, titled, well…Spoiler Paintings.

I suppose a new Matrix movie opened the possibility to new merchandise, but I’m still surprised to see new Matrix toys…let alone ones which are SO ADORABLE.

I sure hope that the announcer for the A’s throws to the cats to do a big cheer in the later innings.

“LET’S HEAR IT FOR YOUR OAKLAND A’S, YOU FOUR-LEGGED FREELOADERS!”

It was only a matter of time before Charm City got in on the action, I guess.

Hell yes.

I am incredibly lucky to not have a Krispy Kreme location near me.

Great news for a Friday morning. Splatoon 3 hits on September 9, 2022.

LEGO just announced a high-end version of Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder, releasing May 4th. I know that if I buy one of these, I’m going to want many of these.

I have terrible news: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has been moved from October 2022 to June 2023.

I am way too hyped about the debut album from The Smile.

Fast X. Bless us all.

If nothing else, playing The Box Office Game every day has underlined to me how diverse the top 5 used to be, versus what plays well in theaters now.

Here’s a free thought for Netflix. In addition to considering ad-supported plans, maybe make 4K available to everyone without needing additional payments, like every other streaming service? Just a thought…

Maybe the second try is the charm for Amy Henning to get to make a Star Wars game.

Once again, I’d like to call upon Capcom to make a Power Stone collection for Nintendo Switch.

Oh cool, it looks like the official Nintendo Switch Game Boy Advance emulator has leaked.

As someone who spends wayyyyy too much money on Apple products + services, I’d just like to say:

I’d love for that money to go towards a company which officially acknowledges and supports a union for their retail employees, if not the business at large.

They’re gonna make a Streets of Rage movie? I don’t know what it would be…beyond a 90 minute long action scene.

But that worked for The Raid and The Raid 2, so, maybe this will be an all-timer.

Things I learned today:

  1. There was a Super Mario Bros. anime in 1986.
  2. It was difficult to see / obtain
  3. Someone not only got a copy, but restored it to 4K and uploaded it to YouTube.

Enjoy.

Loving the first teaser for Thor: Love and Thunder. The shot of Jane at the end rules, but I’d imagine the internet was losing their mind at seeing Thor in a Taika Watiti directed movie where he’s on a…pirate ship? Even briefly?

Great news: If you were waiting for streaming – which is completely understandable – The Batman is now available on HBO Max and the VOD providers of your choice.

Possibly a day early, because I can’t imagine 9am Sunday is when they’d want to announce them, LEGO has revealed their full line of collectible The Muppets mini-figures on their Facebook.

I’m gonna have to order a case, aren’t I?

I think half of why I watch Bar Rescue is to see if THIS is the episode where Jon Taffer has the massive heart attack which causes him to finally chill out.

Wrapping up the wild three-part Steven Seagal series on The Dollop.

If you think you know the story, it’s only the beginning. First part is here.

Just heard the new Holy Fuck track, “Ninety Five”. Definitely could be an outtake from nine inch nails' Ghosts sessions. That’s a good thing.

(Shout out Sirius XM’s #DL15 for the heads up on this track.)

Oh boy. LinkedIn Ghostwriters are a thing now.

At least it’s not another photo of a homeless person that a CEO posts about giving a shot, right?

However long it’s going to take to subtitle / release Shin Ultraman in the United States already isn’t fast enough. Cannot wait to see Anno go wild here, if the new trailer is any indication.

Cool to see that TheYetee got the rights to do an exclusive Godzilla vs. Kong run. That Chibi Kings shirt is a TEN.

Enjoying the new Flock of Dimes b-sides/rarities/demos compilation this morning. What are you listening to?

A Kirby shopping bag. Admit it, you need it.

I’m a sucker for a good Batman: The Animated Series print. This one is no different.

Not sure how long this is going to stay up, but someone on Reddit has a high-quality image of Keaton’s Batman from The Flash.

I love how it looks like a natural extension of the Batman Returns costume.

Looking for a fun iOS game? Night Skate is just $3.

Awesome Game Boy homage graphics, addictive gameplay and nice chip tune soundtrack. Recommended.

Oh, rad! These deals are perfectly timed, as I’m working to move my Nintendo Switch library to digital.

Happy to see Netflix finally using the native tvOS video player.

They give you these standardized options for a reason, y’all. Just makes life easier.

Crimes of the Future, the new David Cronenberg movie. Sure to be all sorts of creepy when it drops later this year. Not sure if I’ll have the stomach for it.

The new LEGO botantical sets are genuinely cool.

I’ve got a bad feeling about this, Twitter.

hello there, internet.

Star Wars, Ranked

Pixar, Ranked

Media Diet: February 2022

STRANGER THINGS Season 4 Split in Half, Series to End with Season 5, And More Revealed

It’s John Cena vs. Wile E Coyote in the Forthcoming COYOTE VS. ACME

George Perez and Kurt Busiek’s JLA / AVENGERS Crossover To FINALLY Be Reprinted

HBO Max Greenlights Season 2 of PEACEMAKER

The First Must See Netflix Movie of 2022? WINDFALL Trailer

I Can’t Believe I’m Going to Watch This: CHIP ’N DALE RESCUE RANGERS Trailer

LEGO Unveils HORIZON FORBIDDEN WEST Tallneck Set!

Long-Lost Debut Godspeed You! Black Emperor Album Officially Released on Bandcamp

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER Is Finally Revealed

Reality is Broken: DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS Trailer

Say YES, to the First Trailer for Jordan Peele’s NOPE

The Replicants Come to Amazon: BLADE RUNNER 2099 TV Series Greenlit

Relive one of the best scenes from one of the best movies ever, with LEGO’s Jurassic Park T-Rex Breakout Set

The Birth and Death of MoviePass 2.0, in two posts

THE END (for now) Is Here: JURASSIC WORLD DOMINION Trailer

Hulu to Revive FUTURAMA for a Third Run

First Teaser for Alex Garland’s MEN Asks More Questions Than It Answers

A New LIGHTYEAR Trailer Takes Flight

There’s an Official David Letterman YouTube Channel Now

Media Diet: January 2022

I ask you, which is the bigger gaming acquisition today?

ScreenCrush’s Matt Singer Eats THE BATMAN Calzony

A Few Dozen Words Losing My Mind About The First Teaser for SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE

Some Brief Thoughts on VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE

WB Games Reveals MULTIVERSUS, A SMASH BROS Clone Filled With Warner Bros Characters

Jimmy Eat World - Clarity: Phoenix Sessions (2021)

Netflix Shows Us Our Big Dumb, Apocalyptic Future in This Full Trailer for DON’T LOOK UP

Disney Releases First Trailer for THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT

Pixar Unveils First Look at 2022’S LIGHTYEAR, a Serious Take on the Buzz Lightyear Origin Story

Warner Bros Unveils The First Look at THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS

Marvel Cinematic Universe, Ranked

Finally, The HALLOWEEN KILLS Trailer Has Arrived

The Second Trailer for SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS Has A Surprise Cameo

A New Trailer for TED LASSO Season 2

LEGO Announces Gorgeous New Typewriter Set

First Trailer for Lisa Joy’s REMINISCENCE

FINALLY, A Trailer for Edgar Wright’s LAST NIGHT IN SOHO

Karen Gillan Kicks a Lot of Butt in First GUNPOWDER MILKSHAKE Trailer

Marvel Studios FINALLY Releases A Teaser Trailer for ETERNALS

MY ADVENTURES WITH SUPERMAN to Bring Animated Young Adult Clark & Lois to HBO Max

BATMAN: CAPED CRUSADER Coming to HBO Max from JJ Abrams, Matt Reeves and Bruce Timm

Attack The Block. TWO.

LEGO Reveals MASSIVE Spider-Man Daily Bugle Set

Teaser Trailer for SNAKE EYES: GI JOE ORIGINS

First Trailer for VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE

First Teaser for STRANGER THINGS 4

Nintendo Surprise Announces GAME BUILDER GARAGE

www.youtube.com/watch

Nintendo.com:

So, basically this seems to take the lessons learned from Nintendo Labo and Super Mario Maker and apply them to actual full-on game design.

And, they’re sneaking it out on June 11th for $30.

You so sneaky, Nintendo.

Marvel Studios Celebrates the Movies

Amazon Renews INVINCIBLE for Seasons 2 + 3

Our First Look at Netflix’s Adaptation of SWEET TOOTH

Netflix Just Wants You to PLAY SOMETHING

New Trailer for Disney and Pixar's LUCA

www.youtube.com/watch

Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, Disney and Pixar’s original feature film “Luca" is a coming-of-age story about one young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer filled with gelato, pasta and endless scooter rides. Luca shares these adventures with his newfound best friend, but all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: they are sea monsters from another world just below the water’s surface. Directed by Academy Award® nominee Enrico Casarosa (“La Luna") and produced by Andrea Warren (“Lava,“ “Cars 3"), “Luca" releases June 18 on Disney+.

In a word? Lush.

A little bummed that my vaccinated butt won’t be able to see this in a theater proper, but you better believe I’ll be streaming it on Disney+ this June.

EDIT: Hey, there’s a poster now, too.

First Look at TED LASSO Season 2

Surprise, It’s The First Teaser for Marvel’s SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS

BARB & STAR’s Wiig & Mumolo to Write a Movie About Cinderella’s Stepsisters for Disney

Up Next in the INDIANA JONES 5 Cast: Mads Mikkelsen!

A Collection of Recreated Classic Marvel Comics Title Logos

CREATURES OF HOPE: A Gorgeous Photo and Illustration Series

Trailer 2 for F9, The Latest FAST AND FURIOUS Film

Next Apple Event Set for April 20th

It’s Ocean’s 11 Meets Zombies in the New Trailer for Zack Snyder’s ARMY OF THE DEAD

Joe Cornish to Write/Direct Adaptation of Mark Millar’s STARLIGHT

SKULL ISLAND Director To Take On GUNDAM for Netflix

MYTHIC QUEST Season 2 Trailer

Apple Rumored to Be Developing a New Apple TV with Camera and Speaker

How Do You Make Me Want To See INDIANA JONES 5? Phoebe Waller-Bridge, That’s How!

A $700 Goddamned Optimus Prime Which Walks and Transforms On Its Own

Sony Pictures Makes a Streaming Pact with Netflix

They’re Gonna Make a PEEPS Movie, I Guess

New Trailer for Disney+’s LOKI

Bandai Japan Now Offers Gunpla Recycling

SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY Trailer

Apple Arcade Expands to Include Mobile Gaming Classics, Revived

YASUKE Teaser, A New Anime on Netflix

www.youtube.com/watch

Premieres April 29 only on Netflix.

Starring Lakeith Stanfield (Get Out, Judas and the Black Messiah), with a score by Flying Lotus. Could be dope!

Why Apple Should Bring Shortcuts to macOS

Six Colors:

For years, Apple has been a leader in user automation. AppleScript was an early attempt to demystify scripting for a lay audience; Automator was sold as an easy building-block interface for performing tasks; and Shortcuts on iOS brought a modern sensibility to Automator’s premise.

The problem is that today, everything about user automation on Apple’s platforms is fractured. On the Mac, the technologies feel old-fashioned, adrift, and increasingly unsupported. On iOS, Shortcuts has some weaknesses and an every-app-for-itself mindset prevails. And between the two platforms there’s no connectivity at all.

This has to change.

Great piece by Jason Snell, getting into how AppleScript laid down the framework of what Shortcuts can do over on iOS, and how badly macOS needs to have Shortcuts come to that platform.

As someone who makes regular use of Shortcuts (in fact, many posts on this site were generated with Shortcuts), I could not agree more.

Netflix Drops Nearly HALF A BILLION DOLLARS on Two KNIVES OUT Sequels

Variety:

The first “Knives Out" was produced by Media Rights Capital. It was distributed by Lionsgate, going on to earn $311.4 million on a $40 million budget. Johnson was nominated for an Oscar for best original screenplay. It was not immediately clear who benefits from the massive windfall, as MRC is said by sources to have acquired the rights to the material from Johnson and his producing partner Ram Bergman.

As someone who has been a massive fan of Rian Johnson’s work since he first saw Brick, and absolutely adored the world of Benoit Blanc we got our first glimpse into with Knives Out, I am absolutely stunned.

I was just commenting about how so much of the Netflix original library leaves me cold, and now, here we are, two movies I definitely want to see.

I’m so damned excited for these movies. Get PAID, Rian!

New Trailer for THE MITCHELLS VS. THE MACHINES

www.youtube.com/watch

When we last heard about this movie, it was called Connected and was due for a Fall 2020 theatrical release.

Now back to its original title, The Mitchells vs. the Machines still looks great, but now it’ll be hitting Netflix in just about a month.

I’m in.

#FastFoodArmsRace: TGI Fridays Will Kill You With Their Circus-Themed Under The Big Top’ Menu

PR Newswire:

Look at that image. And that’s the “appetizing" image they went with. I mean, what an absolute car crash of a me….

Wait a second.

Alfonso Ribeiro?!

THEY GOT CARLTON UP IN THIS?!

I AM THERE.

New Trailer for Disney+’s STAR WARS: THE BAD BATCH

www.youtube.com/watch

Premieres on May 4th with an extended episode, then new episodes every Friday starting on May 7th.

Apple WWDC 2021 Set for Online Format

Apple Newsroom:

No big surprise here. Honestly, I think the online format of their conferences as of late has treated Apple quite well.

Red Band Trailer for James Gunn’s THE SUICIDE SQUAD

After 24 Years, Marvel Leaves Diamond To Distribute Via Penguin Random House

Publishers Weekly:

The two companies have signed an exclusive, worldwide multi-year sales and distribution agreement for Marvel’s comics—including individual issues, trade collections, and graphic novels both newly published and backlist—to the direct market. PRHPS officially begins its distribution to direct market retailers for Marvel titles on October 1. The move marks a major change in the U.S. comics distribution market, which Diamond Comic Distributors has long dominated.

Unreal! I mean, DC Comics made a similar move last year, moving all distribution in house, but Diamond has had such a monopolistic lock on the comic book industry that I am absolutely stunned such a change has occurred.

Wonder what this means for the longevity of the brick-and-mortar comic store…

JOHN WICK’s Chad Stahelski Developing GHOST OF TSUSHIMA Movie with Sony

Deadline:

The game is developed by Sucker Punch Productions and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment and centers around samurai warrior Jin Sakai, the last surviving member of his clan, who must set aside the traditions that have shaped him as a warrior to wage an unconventional war for the freedom of Tsushima.

Ghost of Tsushima was one of my favorite games of last year, and was an absolute love letter to Japanese samurai films, so when you add one of the best action directors going today, I’m very excited.

Now, will it break the curse of bad video game movies? Too early to say…but all the right tools are there.

Update: Now Sucker Punch Productions Game Director Nate Fox has chimed in with some notes on the movie:

#FastFoodArmsRace: Peeps Pepsi

Yes folks, I’ve decided to bring it back. And what way to bring it back.

PepsiCo Press Release:

Marshmallow cola. Fuck outta here.

Pierce Brosnan Joins BLACK ADAM as Dr. Fate

Variety:

Dr. Fate, also known as Kent Nelson, is a founding member of the Justice Society who gains superpowers through putting on the magical Helmet of Fate. The casting of Brosnan completes the lineup for the Justice Society of America, with Aldis Hodge playing Hawkman, Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher and Quintessa Swindell taking on Cyclone.

“Black Adam" follows the story of the anti-hero of the same name, played by Johnson. The character of Black Adam first appeared in DC Comics in the 1940s as a power-corrupt villain, and slowly became an anti-hero by the 2000s, known for his disregard of rules and conventions.

For those not super familiar with DC Comics ephemera, here’s a quick analogy:

Dr. Fate is to DC Comics what Doctor Strange is to Marvel Comics 1

All that being said, I refuse to believe that Black Adam or The Flash (which also had casting, er, re-casting news today) is a real movie until it’s actually playing in front of me.

Cary Fukunaga to Direct Adaptation of TOKYO GHOST

The Hollywood Reporter:

Fukunaga will direct a feature adaptation of cyberpunk Image comic series Tokyo Ghost for Legendary.

Tokyo Ghost is set in 2089 when humanity has become fully addicted to technology as an escape from reality. The story follows peacekeepers Debbie Decay and Led Dent, who are working in the Isles of Los Angeles and are given a job that will take them to the last tech-free country on Earth: the garden nation of Tokyo.

Rick Remender, whose series Fear Agent is currently being developed by Seth Rogen’s Point Grey for Amazon, and Sean Gordon Murphy, who is behind the Chrononauts comic that is set for adaptation at Netflix, are behind Image series. Remender, who previously worked with the Russo brothers as co-creator and co-showrunner on SyFy series Deadly Class, is set to pen the Legendary project.

Let’s just hope they get Murphy’s eye for cool technologies and vehicles JUST right on this adaptation!

Disney+ Greenlights NATIONAL TREASURE Series with Latinx Lead

Deadline:

The project, from the films’ producer Jerry Bruckheimer and original writers Marianne and Cormac Wibberley, is a reimagining of the National Treasure franchise. Written by the Wibberleys and to be directed by Mira Nair (Vanity Fair), the series explores the timely issues of identity, community, historical authorship and patriotism, told from the point of view of Jess Morales, a twenty-year-old DREAMer who, with her diverse group of friends, sets off on the adventure of a lifetime to uncover her mysterious family history and recover lost treasure.

Dope! I love those movies.

SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD To Get 10th Anniversary Dolby Cinema Re-Release!

www.youtube.com/watch

Very close to making me consider going to the theater.

That said, just let me know when that 4K remaster is up on iTunes.

ROCKET LEAGUE to Come to Mobile with F2P Spinoff, SIDESWIPE

Rocket League:

We’re hard at work on this free mobile game for iOS and Android that takes the core, competitive gameplay of Rocket League and reimagines it for a mobile device. In Rocket League Sideswipe, players compete from a new perspective on the field in 1v1 or 2v2 matches. Games will be fast-paced, 2-minute matches that you can play with friends near or far thanks to online play.

www.youtube.com/watch

Looks fun enough. Now let us hope the free-to-play elements aren’t too cringeworthy.

STOWAWAY Trailer: Anna Kendrick Hitches A Ride to Space for Netflix

www.youtube.com/watch

Anna Kendrick? Check! Space movie? Check!

Yeah, I’ll see you in April, Netflix.

Helen Mirren to Play Lead Villain in SHAZAM Sequel

Deadline:

What the hell, why not.

Disney Revamps Theatrical Release Calendar, New Dates for BLACK WIDOW, CRUELLA, LUCA and Others

Variety:

All that is to say Disney has massively overhauled its upcoming slate and amended release plans for “Black Widow,“ “Cruella,“ Pixar’s “Luca" and several others.

Short version:

Must be fun running a movie studio right now.

Warner Bros. Movies Return to Theatrical-Only Openings in 2022

As mentioned in an article on Deadline discussing the re-opening of Regal Cinemas:

So, if I’m to read through the lines here, the plan with the 2022 release slate is:

Enjoy those direct-to-HBO Max movies while you can, gang, the genie is going back in the bottle. As well it should, IMO — can’t recoup a $300 Million blockbuster with streaming money.

An Updated Nintendo Switch, by Way of Nvidia, Coming This Year

Bloomberg Japan:

The new Switch iteration will support Nvidia’s Deep Learning Super Sampling, or DLSS, a novel rendering technology that uses artificial intelligence to deliver higher-fidelity graphics more efficiently. That will allow the console, which is also set for an OLED display upgrade, to reproduce game visuals at 4K quality when plugged into a TV, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plan is not public.

The U.S. company’s new chipset will also bring a better CPU and increased memory. DLSS support will require new code to be added to games, so it’ll primarily be used to improve graphics on upcoming titles, said the people, including multiple game developers. Bloomberg News previously reported that the new Switch is likely to include a 7-inch OLED screen from Samsung Display Co. and couple the console’s release with a bounty of new games.

Day one. There’s not a system on the market I like more than the Switch, and these enhancements sound exactly what the system needs for a nice refresh.

Now, about that JoyCon drift…

Seth Rogen to Play Steven Spielberg’s Cool Uncle in Spielberg’s Pseudo-Bio-Pic

Deadline:

“Hey Seth? Steven Spielberg here.“ “Y-yeah? Hi!“ “Wanna play my cool Uncle?“ “[stoner giggle]“ “…“ “Yeah man! I’ll play your Uncle.“

POKEMON GO Dev Niantic Continuing Work With Nintendo, PIKMIN Walking App Up Next

Nintendo Japan Press Release:

The app is scheduled to launch globally later in 2021, with Niantic as the publisher. The title will also be the first title created by Niantic Tokyo Studio, Niantic’s development studio established in April 2018.

That’s all we know now.

I do have to say, it’s very refreshing to see them not go the obvious route (Pokemon Go 2!) and instead move forward with one of Nintendo’s sleeper franchises in Pikmin.

I wonder if they can catch even an essence of the lighting in a bottle which was Pokemon Go.

R.I.P. Xbox Live’

The Verge:

For nearly two decades, “Xbox Live" has been the name of online play for Xboxes.

The new name isn’t bad, and all and all, Xbox Network and Xbox Game Pass are way better titles than PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now. 1

Hope You Liked Discord, It’s Getting Sold for $10 Billion

GamesBeat:

Two sources familiar with the matter said that Discord is exploring its options for a sale in the wake of interest from multiple parties that want to buy the company. And one source said the company has signed an exclusive acquisition discussion with one party, meaning it is in final negotiations about a sale. This news comes after Discord raised $140 million in December at a $7 billion valuation (based on data found by Prime Unicorn Index).

I’m definitely concerned about…

I know, it’s the way tech goes, but gosh, I wish a tech company would just aim at being sustainable/profitable and not exiting as a Unicorn.

Update: Per Bloomberg, the suitor is Microsoft.

THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER is Disney+’s Biggest Premiere Yet

Variety:

Anecdotally, a few friends reported having issues loading content on Disney+ on Friday morning, which certainly lines up with this.

That said? I feel like there was a much bigger conversation about The Mandalorian and WandaVision.

I guess we will have to see what the next 5 weeks of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier have in store for us.

Image Comics to Release THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO COMIC BOOK LETTERING This October

AIPT!:

The book will contain tips, techniques, and more focused on digital comic book lettering. Given Piekos’ work at Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Image Comics, Oni Press, and more he has plenty to share.

True story, I once really wanted to become a comic letterer. Even got to do it on the amateur level for a while.

Piekos’ is truly one of the best at his craft, so good, you probably haven’t considered how great he is, so this is sure to be a great read for creators and fans alike.

The State of Streaming Media in 2021

From a write up that Erik Shilling at Jalopnik did about trying to watch older seasons of Top Gear 1 on Amazon Prime:

He’s not wrong, that’s how it is.

I — personally — have been trying to combat this by purchasing favorite movies and TV shows 2, but this is the issue everyone’s trying to crack.

I can’t help but feel like if Apple TV Channels or Amazon’s Channel formats were more widely accepted, each provider would offer some crazy “omni-pass" for a price just under the combined total of say, 5 of them together, but alas, we’re not there.

…and I don’t think an “Apple-Music-or-Spotify-for-movies-and-television" is on it’s way, gang…

Great News! The Snyder Cut is The End of the SnyderVerse

LEGO Announces New NASA Space Shuttle Discovery Set

PROMSING YOUNG WOMAN Director to Write ZATANNA Movie for DC Comics

A Summer Adventure with a Surprise: First Teaser for Pixar's LUCA

www.youtube.com/watch

What a gorgeous looking movie. I’m there.

The First Teaser for Zack Snyder's ARMY OF THE DEAD

www.youtube.com/watch

Had me at “zombie heist movie". Batista and Tig Notaro are just some nice bonuses.

Nerf Brings the Foam Ball Guns You've Always Wanted: The Hyper Line

Nerf reveals Hyper, its next-gen high capacity blasters with the fastest reloads ever - The Verge:

Today, the company’s announcing Nerf Hyper, a new line of blasters that not only shoots harder (up to 110 feet per second) than any stock blaster but also features the company’s fastest reloads yet, thanks to a smaller foam projectile that takes up so little space, you can fit 40 of them inside a pistol-sized blaster. That’s unheard of in Nerf. You can clip on (or carry around) 50 or 100 round canisters to quickly top them up, much like a paintball gun.

This is amazing. Time to shoot my friends really hard.*

 

*once we’ve all been vaccinated and feel comfortable being physically around each other, so probably 2022-ish?

Daft Punk Calls It Quits

Daft Punk Break Up | Pitchfork:

An absolute heartbreaker for a Monday morning.

Here’s the announcement video.

www.youtube.com/watch

I’ve got a lot of feelings about this, as Daft Punk as an act always seemed to match my tastes both musically and visually.

While I process those thoughts, I’m going to share Interstella 5555, which I’ve always thought was their magnum opus, matching their amazing album Discovery with 70’ throwback animation.

www.youtube.com/watch

The R-Rated MORTAL KOMBAT Reboot Trailer Has Arrived

www.youtube.com/watch

This looks super fun. Considering it hits HBO Max in April, I will absolutely give it a spin.

BLOODKNIFEBLOODKNIFEBLOODKNIFE

Tim Burton to Bring WEDNESDAY ADDAMS To Netflix

Wednesday Addams Live-Action Series Set at Netflix - Variety:

The project was first reported as being in development back in October, though no network or streamer was attached at that time. Netflix has given the coming-of-age series an eight episode order.

Based on the character originally created by Charles Addams, “Wednesday" is a young adult TV series described as a a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams’ years as a student at Nevermore Academy. She attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town, and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago — all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships at Nevermore.

The previous rumors are confirmed.

I guess this will be like the recently ended Sabrina series, but with Addams Family characters?

Lord Help Me, I Want These SIMPSONS x Adidas Sneakers

‘The Simpsons’ x adidas Superstar & ZX 1000 Info | HYPEBEAST:

The Flaming Moe version is fantastic.

DC Comics Returns to the Worlds of Burton BATMAN and Donner SUPERMAN

The Movie Worlds of Superman ‘78 and Batman ‘89 Are Heading to Comics in Two All-New DC Digital First Series! | DC:

Very excited for this. Joe Quinones posted about his pitch for this very same idea back in 2016, and I’m very glad to see it come to life.

The other bit which has me stoked? Look at these character designs!

twitter.com/Joe_Quino…

Yep, that Bruce Wayne is what you think it is.

First Trailer for Emma Stone as DISNEY'S CRUELLA

www.youtube.com/watch

Academy Award® winner Emma Stone (“La La Land") stars in Disney’s “Cruella,“ an all-new live-action feature film about the rebellious early days of one of cinemas most notorious — and notoriously fashionable — villains, the legendary Cruella de Vil. “Cruella,“ which is set in 1970s London amidst the punk rock revolution, follows a young grifter named Estella, a clever and creative girl determined to make a name for herself with her designs. She befriends a pair of young thieves who appreciate her appetite for mischief, and together they are able to build a life for themselves on the London streets. One day, Estella’s flair for fashion catches the eye of the Baroness von Hellman, a fashion legend who is devastatingly chic and terrifyingly haute, played by two-time Oscar® winner Emma Thompson (“Howards End,“ “Sense & Sensibility"). But their relationship sets in motion a course of events and revelations that will cause Estella to embrace her wicked side and become the raucous, fashionable and revenge-bent Cruella.

This feels a lot like someone at Disney wanted to make their own Harley Quinn movie.

Yet, it doesn’t look bad? I’ll gladly check it out on Disney+.

BROOKLYN NINE-NINE to End with Eighth Season

‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ to End With Season 8 on NBC - Variety:

The show was famously canceled after five seasons at Fox in 2018 before NBC revived it for a sixth season that same year. The comedy, set in a Brooklyn police precinct, stars Andy Samberg, Andre Braugher, Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero, Stephanie Beatriz, Joe Lo Truglio, Dirk Blocker and Joel McKinnon Miller. Season 8 will consist of 10 episodes. The show was originally renewed for an eight season in 2019 but the pandemic has stymied production. Season 8 will air as part of the 2021-2022 season.

I can’t imagine trying to write and produce a police-based comedy show is easy in the year 2021.

Still one of my favorite shows going. It will be missed.

HBO's THE LAST OF US Adaptation Casts Their Joel and Ellie

‘Last of Us’: ‘Game of Thrones’ Breakout Bella Ramsey to Star as Ellie (Exclusive) | Hollywood Reporter:

Pedro Pascal Joins Bella Ramsey to Star in HBO’s ‘Last of Us’ | Hollywood Reporter:

The Mandalorian star is playing Joel.

Sounds awesome to me.

Lucasfilm Drops Gina Carano From All Future Projects

‘The Mandalorian’ Star Gina Carano Fired Amid Social Media Controversy | Hollywood Reporter:

“Gina Carano is not currently employed by Lucasfilm and there are no plans for her to be in the future,” a Lucasfilm spokesperson said in a statement. “Nevertheless, her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable.”

Carano has also been dropped as a client by UTA, an agency spokesperson confirms.

“They have been looking for a reason to fire her for two months, and today was the final straw,“ a source with knowledge of Lucasfilm’s thinking tells THR.

You know, I was really rooting for Carano. Following her MMA run in Strikeforce (where I was a fan), I was excited to see her launch a pretty decent acting career in movies like Deadpool, Haywire and Fast Five.

But, I guess like fellow MMA fighter Tito Ortiz, those punches to the head really did a number on her.

It’s so wild to me to see a situation which, honestly, could’ve been solved by just not posting.

By no means do I support her views (though I admit its her right to have them, as dumbass as I believe them to be), but really, she had A PRIMARY ROLE IN THE STAR WARS UNIVERSE which she pissed away here by way of Twitter/Instagram.

Sure, I guess a future of being a butt-hurt “cancelled" commentator for Fox News and similar outlets is in her future, but…Jesus Christ. It’s amazing to see someone light a match, pour gasoline and burn a bridge in real time.

SOUND THE KLAXONS, CLONE HIGH to Return for HBO Max (Also, An Adult VELMA Show?)

Clone High’ Reboot, Scooby Doo’ Spinoff & Pete Davidson Comedy Set At HBO Max — Deadline:

The streamer has handed a two-season order to Clone High, the reboot of the classic MTV series with Phil Lord, Chris Miller and Bill Lawrence, and ordered Scooby-Doo spinoff Velma with Mindy Kaling set as lead voice star and exec producer and Fired on Mars from Pete Davidson.

TWO SEASONS!

For those who did not watch Clone High, it was an amazing show which gave us the rise of Lord and Miller. I think it’s only available for purchase digitally now.

It was the perfect encapsulation of early 00’s angst, colliding with surreal humor. Their interpretation of JFK is an all-timer.

Now, as for that Velma show…

I’m thinking / hoping this is basically Harley Quinn but for Velma?

Any way you slice it, I’m very excited for HBO Max’s focus on cartoons!

Whoa! A Super High Quality Capture of Daft Punk's 2007 Lollapalooza Performance

www.youtube.com/watch

I love Daft Punk. And because of that, Alive 2007 is one of my favorite live albums of all time, an incredible mashup of all their music recorded prior.

Really, for me, one of the biggest bummers was that they didn’t also do a proper DVD or Blu-Ray release of the set.

On the tour for Alive 2007, the robots made a stop at Lollapalooza, in Chicago, IL. Earlier this month, someone (YouTube user Johnny Airbag) uploaded the RAW satellite footage from the show, which was used on the screens inside the venue.

Who would’ve thought this would ever surface, let alone 14 years later?

Amazing stuff.

Enjoy, I know I will.

Some early thoughts on Weezer’s OK HUMAN

Carrot Weather 5.0: My Favorite Weather App Gets Even Greater

Carrot Weather gets major overhaul, now free to download - 9to5Mac:

Very nice breakdown from 9to5Mac on this new version of the iOS weather app I absolutely swear by.

The fit and finish on this new version is unreal. I never thought I’d care this much about a weather app, but here we go. And now, it’s free to try, so go check it out!

Tweetbot is Back on iOS, With a Subscription in Tow

Tweetbot 6 Moves to Subscription Pricing - MacStories:

The subscription costs $0.99 per month or $5.99 annually. Many of the features previously available as part of the paid app, including multiple account support, advanced filtering, and push notifications, are now subscription-only features. Tapbots says that subscribers will also benefit from future updates as Twitter expands its third-party APIs and ensure Tweetbot’s continued development. You can still download the app to view your timeline if you’re not willing to subscribe, but the free version is read-only, so it isn’t possible to tweet from it.

I can hear pearls being clutched at yet another great third-party application being turned to a subscription model, but really, it’s more Apple’s fault than Tweetbot’s.

Tweetbot is an app I live far too many hours in. It’s everything Twitter was in 2012, but in 2021. No ads, no Fleets, a chronological timeline, and across device timeline syncing. And they’re using the new v2 Twitter API (which does cost $$$) so the app is only going to get better.

You know how everyone says about Twitter, “I can’t believe this site is free?“ Yeah, this is worth the $6/year.

An Oral History of Marvel's 2015 SECRET WARS

Solve Everything: An Oral History of 2015’s Secret Wars and How It Came to Be - SKTCHD:

The problem is this doesn’t always happen. Many events are just big stories with enough oomph to warrant a more significant focus — or even arcs elevated in hopes of goosing orders — rather than something with actual line-wide significance. The rarity of a true universe-changing event, though, can mean that when they do arrive, they have an outsized impact.

One of those — maybe even the biggest of them all — was 2015’s Secret Wars. This nine-part mini-series from writer Jonathan Hickman, artist Esad Ribić, colorist Ive Svorcina, and letterers Chris Eliopoulos and Clayton Cowles was the culmination of not just Hickman’s preceding Avengers and New Avengers run, but arguably the totality of his time at Marvel up until that point. It told the story of Doctor Doom’s reign as a god on a newly remade Battleworld — built from Incursion points of other, destroyed Earths and filled with new versions of old favorites — as Reed Richards, Black Panther, Namor, and a small group of heroes (and villains) who still remembered what once was endeavored to end Doom’s reign and return the Earth to its rightful state.

It was a monster of a series, resulting in the temporary ending of Marvel’s entire line, the destruction of the Ultimate Universe, the migration of Miles Morales (and others) to Marvel’s primary 616 universe, the sunsetting of the bulk of the Fantastic Four for more than two and a half years, and an array of story points that continue onwards in Marvel stories to this day. It wasn’t just a big deal in theory either. It sold like gangbusters and had a deep impact on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, particularly Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. In short?

Secret Wars changed everything.

This is its story.

Another amazing, comprehensive piece from the madman David Harper at Sktchd. I know, it’s a subscription site, but if you enjoy truly in-depth looks at the comics industry, the guy is doing the lord’s work.

Aqueux: A Really Great Set of Mac and iOS Wallpapers

 

Aqueux — Dynamic wallpapers based on a classic:

Ultra high-resolution wallpapers, inspired by an OS X classic — available in several wide-gamut color editions, with easy installation on macOS, and a collection available for mobile devices.

From the creator of Wavēy. Just $3. Cheap!

Wither WANDAVISION?

WarnerMedia has CLEARLY Learned Nothing From Their DC Comics Movie Success

Managing Movie Superheroes Is About to Get a Lot More Complicated - The New York Times:

The most expensive DC movies (up to four a year, starting in 2022) are designed for release in theaters, Mr. Hamada said. Additional superhero films (two annually is the goal, perhaps focused on riskier characters like Batgirl and Static Shock) will arrive exclusively on HBO Max, the fledgling streaming service owned by WarnerMedia.

In addition, DC Films, which is part of Warner Bros., will work with filmmakers to develop movie offshoots — TV series that will run on HBO Max and interconnect with their big-screen endeavors.

So, 6 movies a year along with TV spin-offs is the goal.

Meanwhile, Marvel is arguably going “too big" with 3 movies and 3 TV shows a year.

Good luck, gang. If Wonder Woman 1984 was any indication, you need a lot more “no guys" on your staff than “yes men".

METAL GEAR OSCAR: Oscar Issac WILL Be Solid Snake

Oscar Isaac To Star As Solid Snake In Sony’s Metal Gear Solid’ Movie — Deadline:

The film is based on the Metal Gear Solid video game created by Hideo Kojima and published by Konami. The script is written by Derek Connolly. Avi Arad is producing. Peter Kang is the executive overseeing for the studio.

Between this and Moon Knight, Oscar Issac is appearing as all of my favorite heroes. This absolutely rules.

BOMBSHELL: Warner Bros' Entire 2021 Release Schedule to Hit HBO Max Same Day as Theaters

‘Matrix 4,’ ‘Dune,’ 2021 WB Slate Debuting on HBO Max and in Theaters - Variety:

Instead, the studio will deploy a similar release strategy for the next 12 months. In a surprising break from industry standards, Warner Bros.’ entire 2021 slate — a list of films that includes “The Matrix 4,“ Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune" remake, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical adaptation of “In the Heights,“ “Sopranos" prequel “The Many Saints of Newark" and “The Suicide Squad" — will debut both on HBO Max and in theaters on their respective release dates. The shocking move to simultaneously release movies day-and-date underscores the crisis facing movie theaters and the rising importance of streaming services in the wake of a global health crisis that’s decimated the film exhibition community.

This was, in short, an absolutely stunning bit of news to hit midday today.

With the Disney+ release of Pixar’s Soul and the HBO Max release of Wonder Woman 1984 hitting on Christmas Day, I had a feeling one of the studios was going to start testing the waters for this type of move next year — COVID numbers and vaccine response pending — but I didn’t think we’d see an announcement this big, this soon.

For those wondering the full scope of the WB schedule of next year, here’s more movies to come:

Potential hit after potential hit, and you can get them all at home…with the caveat that they’re only on the service for a month…and then they’ll go through the standard home release/after home release shell game until they return to…HBO Max.

This definitely cannot be good news for theaters. I mean, word came today that AMC was going to have to sell even more stock to stay afloat (again), so, unsurprisingly, the CEO of AMC, Adam Aron, hates this news.

Aron said his chain, which operates 659 locations as the largest U.S. exhibitor, is being asked to subsidize HBO Max.

“Clearly, Warner Media intends to sacrifice a considerable portion of the profitability of its movie studio division, and that of its production partners and filmmakers, to subsidize its HBO Max start up. As for AMC, we will do all in our power to ensure that Warner does not do so at our expense. We will aggressively pursue economic terms that preserve our business. We have already commenced an immediate and urgent dialogue with the leadership of Warner on this subject.“

I’ve got bad news for him. 

Paramount is already selling their movies off — see Borat 2 and Coming 2 America going to Amazon.

And Disney? The crown jewel? They’re “focus[ing] on streaming“, and they’ve got more to announce on December 10th.

Tick-tock, theaters. The future is here. And it may not involve you.

Sony Aims to Help Adults Complete More Games With PS5 Activities

Internal Sony Docs Explain How “Activities” Became a Cornerstone for PS5:

I had a hunch this was the focus — besides killing off the traffic to walkthrough sites like GameFAQs or video walkthroughs on YouTube, but seeing it spelled out from the internal Sony docs really nails it.

I relate to this so hard. We’ve come so far from suggesting that we start making to-do lists for our games, haven’t we?

10 CLOVERFIELD LANE's Dan Trachtenberg to Direct Next PREDATOR Movie

20th Century Studios Taps Dan Trachtenberg To Direct Next Predator Film — Deadline:

The definition of “something I didn’t know I wanted, and now I do."

How far we’ve come from The Totally Rad Show. #DanIsAMan

Apple Unveils Next Generation of Macs

Introducing the next generation of Mac - Apple:

In many ways, the world of laptops and desktop computers has remained relatively stagnant, with the biggest innovations (to the casual observer) occurring on the higher end — such as Apple’s ridiculous Mac Pro and the latest family of Nvidia graphics cards for gamers.

Otherwise, the most someone would raise an eyebrow is with bizarre, left-of-center computing options, like Microsoft’s Surface Studio 2.

Based on today’s presentation, I think this new line of Macs will speak to everyone, with dramatic increases in power, performance, battery life, and, get this — little to no heat.

It will remain to be seen how these play out when they get out into the real world, but on paper? These computers will be massive hits.

I’m already trying to find an excuse to get myself a new Air.

Marie Javins, The New DC Comics Editor-in-Chief

DC Comics Promotes Marie Javins to Editor-in-Chief - Variety:

So, who is Marie Javins?

This could be a very good move for DC.

HALLOWEEN KILLS Teaser Trailer, Less Than a Year Away

www.youtube.com/watch

Remember, this isn’t just a sequel to Halloween (2018), which was itself, a sequel to Halloween (1978), it’s going to be directly followed by Halloween Ends in October 2022.

Can’t wait.

Homestar Runner: "Halloween Hijinks"

www.youtube.com/watch

Every time that there’s a new Homestar Runner cartoon, it should be considered a national holiday.

TED LASSO Gets an Early 3rd Season Renewal

‘Ted Lasso’ Renewed for Season 3 at Apple - Variety:

The news comes ahead of the start of production on Season 2 of the comedy series, which was announced in August. Production is slated to begin in early January in London.

The series stars Jason Sudeikis as the titular Lasso, a small-time college football coach from Kansas hired to coach a professional soccer team in England, despite having no experience coaching soccer. The series also stars Hannah Waddingham, Brendan Hunt, Jeremy Swift, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, Phil Dunster and Nick Mohammed.

Literally my new favorite show on television. It’s so heartfelt, genuine and hilarious. I can’t recommend it enough. It’s literally the reason why I think you should get an Apple TV+ subscription.

Genndy Tartakovsky Returns with UNICORNS: WARRIORS ETERNAL

Genndy Tartakovsky’s Unicorns: Warriors Eternal Headed to Cartoon Network | Collider:

Further describing the series, the official release states that the show will center around a “team of ancient heroes protecting the world from an ominous force. Throughout history, unicorns have symbolized the virtuous, appearing to ensure that goodness reigns. When the reawakening of our heroes comes too early, they find themselves in the bodies of teenagers. Damaged as a result, their memories of who they are and the history of the unicorn over the centuries have been lost, with some of their magical abilities weakened and fragmented. Not only do they have to protect the world against the prevailing darkness, they have to do it while navigating the unexpected laughs and humor that come with teen angst and emotions.“ This sounds incredibly weird and incredibly cool.

Just let Genndy make whatever he wants.

That reminds me, if you haven’t, you really should watch Primal. It’s streaming on HBO Max and is an incredible piece of animation.

TINY TOONS To Return for HBO Max/Cartoon Network

‘Tiny Toons’ Revival Gets 2-Season Order at HBO Max, Cartoon Network:

The new series, “Tiny Toons Looniversity,“ centers on Babs, Buster Bunny and the rest of the gang as they follow their comedic ambitions all the way to Acme Looniversity, the esteemed institution of higher hijinx learning, where young dreamers become professional toons.

First Animaniacs returns, now this.

Anyone want a Freakazoid reboot?

Jon Stewart Heads to Apple TV+

Jon Stewart to Host New Current Affairs Series for Apple TV+:

The untitled series, which has been picked up for multiple seasons, is described as a “one-hour, single-issue series will explore topics that are currently part of the national conversation and his advocacy work,“ according to Apple. Each season will be accompanied by a companion podcast which will “continue the discussion.“

I’m there.

Apple TV+ Signs Seth Rogen & Rose Byrne Comedy, PLATONIC

Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne Reteam for Apple Comedy Series ‘Platonic’ - Variety:

Titled “Platonic,“ the half-hour series will see the pair reunite with Nick Stoller, who directed them in both of the “Neighbors" films and also worked on the screenplay of the sequel. The show has received a 10-episode order.

“Platonic" explores the inner workings of platonic friendship. A pair of former best friends who met in their youth (Byrne and Rogen) reconnect as adults and try to mend the rift that led to their falling out. As their friendship becomes more consuming, it destabilizes their lives and causes them to reevaluate their choices.

Hey, whatever gives me an additional, non-Ted Lasso show worth recommending from the service.

Tenacious D Does The "Time Warp"

www.youtube.com/watch

An absolutely perfect cover. Seventeen-Year-Old Me is losing his mind over this.

I’d kinda be into Tenacious D covering the entire Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack?

Netflix Signs Deal to Launch ASSASSIN'S CREED TV Series

‘Assassin’s Creed’ Live-Action TV Series in the Works at Netflix | Hollywood Reporter:

Netflix and Ubisoft are teaming to bring Assassin’s Creed to television and will develop a slate of properties based on the best-selling game. The first project under the pact is a live-action, genre-bending adaptation of the game. A search is under way for a showrunner for the project, which is currently in the development stages.

Honestly, the television format is way better for Assassin’s Creed than the movie format.

They could easily change assassins and eras season by season to freshen up the show, which I know is sort of Netflix’s want to keep things new and different.

An interesting note here, though…

So, it sounds like this is just the beginning for the franchise.

Netflix Reveals George Clooney's THE MIDNIGHT SKY

OSCAR ISSAC is Your MOON KNIGHT

Marvel Taps Oscar Isaac To Star in Moon Knight’ Series’ — Deadline:

Jeremy Slater, who developed and wrote Netflix’s comic book adaptation of the Umbrella Academy series, has been tapped to develop and lead the writing team on the series for the streamer.

Oh fuck yeah.

I sure hope this is at least partially based on He Who Won’t Be Named’s run on the series, if not Jeff Lemire’s.

Sony Delays PS5 Launch Title Destruction AllStars to February, Makes It Free to PS Plus Members

Destruction AllStars coming to PlayStation Plus in February — PlayStation.Blog:

Destruction AllStars is a multiplayer game that’s at its best when you’re competing with gamers online from all around the world. We want as many people as possible to experience the mayhem on PS5, and what better way to do that than to provide the game to our PlayStation Plus members?

I think the PS5 is going to be plenty hard to get this year, so for a game based on multiplayer, this is a wise move.

I know that at least personally, I thought the game looked intriguing, so with the option as a PlayStation Plus member to get it “free", that’s a total win.

Apple and A24's Next Project: BRIDE, Starring Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson to Star in ‘Bride’ for Apple, A24 - Variety:

“Bride" follows a woman created to be an ideal wife — the singular obsession of a brilliant entrepreneur. When she rejects her creator, she’s forced to flee her confined existence, confronting a world that sees her as a monster. While on the run, she finds her true identity, her surprising power and the strength to remake herself as her own creation.

Johansson and Jonathan Lia will produce “Bride" through their company, These Pictures. Keenan Flynn will co-produce. Lauren Schuker Blum (“Orange Is the New Black"), Rebecca Angelo (“Wolfman") and Lelio are on board to write the script.

So it’s a 21st century reinterpretation of The Bride of Frankenstein, and Scarlett Johansson isn’t playing Asian. Win-win.

Yet ANOTHER BATTLESTAR GALACTICA Reboot in the Works for the Big Screen

Simon Kinberg to Write, Produce ‘Battlestar Galactica’ Movie for Universal (Exclusive) | Hollywood Reporter:

Simon Kinberg has signed on to write and produce Battlestar Galactica, Universal’s long-gestating feature adaptation of its sci-fi TV franchise.

Kinberg, who was the main architect of almost a decade’s worth of X-Men movies, now has a new franchise universe to work with and will be starting from the ground up in telling the tale of humans on faraway planets on the run from a race of intelligent machines bent on wiping them out.

He will join producer Dylan Clark, who has long shepherded the project, which has attracted filmmakers such as Bryan Singer and Francis Lawrence over the years.

Why not? I mean, the TV reboot is now 16 years old, having gone off the air 11 years ago.

At the same time…

Welp.

Tim Burton's Working on an ADDAMS FAMILY TV Series, Apparently

Tim Burton Is Making An Addams Family’ TV Series — Deadline:

I feel like Burton has been rumored to be working on an Addams Family project since the era of the Paramount movies in the 1990’s.

He’s definitely the right guy for such a project, but it also feels like autopilot.

I also wonder how this will play with the sequel to the CG animated movie (I never saw the first, if anyone can chime in how that was) due in October 2021.*

LEGO Unveils Stunning Sesame Street Set

Step Up To The Brand-New LEGO® Ideas 123 Sesame Street - About us - LEGO.com US:

Created with all the delightful elements of 123 Sesame Street, the new set is packed with authentic details from the famous New York City neighbourhood. From Bert and Ernie’s apartment, in which Bert famously pleaded with Ernie to remove a banana from his ear so he could hear better, to Big Bird’s nest, where the grown-ups finally met Mr. Snuffleupagus in person - builders will marvel in Sesame Street’s most memorable moments.

At a retail price of $120, this is clearly for the adult fans looking back at their childhood, but I can say for sure, this set would’ve blown my mind as a child.

LEGO Ideas 123 Sesame Street arrives on November 1, 2020.

First Look at Tom Holland as Nathan Drake in the Long-Awaited UNCHARTED Movie

www.instagram.com/p/CGplHJh…

I guess this movie is finally, truly getting made.

That said, this doesn’t feel like I’m seeing a still from an Uncharted movie, but instead that Tom Holland is a really really great Nathan Drake cosplayer.

Uncharted is scheduled (in theory) to hit theaters on July 16, 2021.

MORTAL KOMBAT 11 ULTIMATE: John Rambo Gameplay Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

I still can’t believe this is a thing.

It’s 2020, and you can pit Rambo versus Robocop, The Terminator, Spawn or The Joker in Mortal Kombat.

What a world we live in.

BBC's STAGED Gets Season 2, Adds Ben Schwartz to Cast

Staged’: BBC Renews David Tennant & Michael Sheen Lockdown Comedy — Deadline:

The first season of the Infinity Hill, GCB Films and No Mystery-produced show featured Tennant and Sheen mounting Zoom rehearsals for their furloughed West End theatre production during the pandemic.

Season 2 sees the pair attempt to navigate the world of “virtual Hollywood" while keeping their increasingly fragile egos intact. Parks and Recreation star Ben Schwartz joins the cast as an assistant to their American agent.

Hey! A new season of a show featuring two of my favorite people, NOW featuring a third of my favorite people!

Awesome!

Now I just need to watch the first dang season on Hulu.

Support the Ottobar, with A Dope Playlist

The Ottobar, storied Baltimore music venue, launching local playlist to raise money during pandemic - Baltimore Sun:

Called “No Stagediving,“ the playlist will feature 50 or more artists that are local, have gotten their start at the Ottobar or are otherwise associated with the venue, owner Tecla Tesnau said. The venue announced the fundraiser in a promotional email and on social media Tuesday.

I’ll be sharing a link to the actual playlist once it is up. I’m really looking forward to this project, and not just because I’m a heavily invested member of the Ottobar community, but because I always love seeing my local scene celebrated — regardless of the eventual cause it benefits.

Have It Your Way, In a Reusable Whopper Package

Burger King Testing Reusable Containers To Cut Down On Packaging Waste - Chew Boom:

As part of the pilot, fans will be offered the option to reduce waste when ordering their favorite Burger King signature menu items like Whopper sandwiches, soft drinks or coffee in reusable sandwich containers or beverage cups.

Fascinating idea in theory, but I’m not sure how well it would work in practice.

I don’t know about your local BK, but my Whopper’s always end up a sloppy, mayo-and-lettuce-fueled mess. I can’t imagine cleaning those packages would be nice.

Maybe we just move forward with, I dunno, plates?

Hideo Kojima is Working on a New Game. That's All We Know.

Hideo Kojima confirms a new project is in development, says nothing about it “¢ Eurogamer.net:

In a statement issued on Kojima’s official Twitter accounts and Kojima Productions' LinkedIn page, the Metal Gear creator said the studio was hiring for various roles at its Tokyo office.

I know, this is one of those “no shit" sort of stories: Active Software Company in Development of Next Project, if you will.

But in the case of Kojima, his work is always so interesting, lauded and unique, that it’s genuinely exciting to know that the next project is on the way.

That said: I still haven’t played Death Stranding. Should I fix that, dear Internet?

NASA's Got a Moon Announcement for Tomorrow

NASA to Announce New Science Results About Moon | NASA:

This new discovery contributes to NASA’s efforts to learn about the Moon in support of deep space exploration. Under NASA’s Artemis program, the agency will send the first woman and next man to the lunar surface in 2024 to prepare for our next giant leap — human exploration of Mars as early as the 2030s. Understanding the science of the Moon also helps piece together the broader history of the inner solar system.

WE’RE GONNA FIGHT THE MOON

Airbnb Hires Jony Ive For...Reasons.

Designing the Future of Airbnb:

Today, I’m thrilled to announce that Jony and his partners at LoveFrom will be engaging in a special collaboration with me and the Airbnb team. We have made the decision to work together through a multi-year relationship to design the next generation of Airbnb products and services. Jony will also help us continue to develop our internal design team, which he believes to be one of the world’s best. I know he is particularly excited about a relationship that will evolve to become a deep collaboration with our creative team.

I’m gonna go ahead and assume that everything related to Airbnb will now include aluminum.

But seriously: Get paid, Jony. I have no idea what they’re paying you for, but go ahead, get paid.

Quibi! You Just Lost $2 Billion of People's Money on a Flawed Idea! How Are You Gonna Spin It Now?

Quibi Shutdown: Jeffrey Katzenberg & Meg Whitman Exclu Q&A On Closing Up — Deadline:

KATZENBERG: Well, yes and I think the big question will always be was it that the idea of a standalone streaming premium short form platform wouldn’t work, or is it that we got caught in a pandemic?

DEADLINE: What do you think?

KATZENBERG: I think Meg and I are agreed that it’s probably a mix of those two things, it’s some of each. We are not solely a victim of COVID but for sure it had a pretty extreme impact on how we conceived and launched the business.

No, Jeff. It never was COVID.

It was a dude who hasn’t done anything new in nearly 30 years, and his partner CEO who doesn’t watch TV trying to reinvent TV. The poison was already in the wound. COVID just killed you quicker.

Hey! You! Want Hear Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross' Score for MANK?

Netflix has a not very secret’ site showcasing the Mank soundtrack by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross - The Verge:

The soundtrack comes from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, who have created a score with an old-school Hollywood vibe — a big leap from the haunting digital style they’re best known for. From the teaser, you can already hear how Reznor and Ross find ways to impart themes and motifs we know them for into a genre of music that is anything but their usual fare.

 

You can listen to it (while checking out stills for Mank) here: https://www.thewhitewinecameupwiththefish.com/

Enjoy!

Let’s All Move on From The Chris Thing, Yeah?

McDonald’s to Finally Address the Whole McFlurry Issue

GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE Moves to Summer 2021

‘Ghostbusters’ Sequel Moves to Summer 2021 - Variety:

Like nearly every film slated for 2020, Sony has hopscotched the release date for “Ghostbusters: Afterlife" multiple times during the pandemic. It was originally scheduled to open in July before it was pushed to March 5, 2021. Given the unpredictability of coronavirus and audiences’ apprehension to go to the movies amid a global health crisis, there’s no telling if the latest summer release date will stick.

As always with these stories about movie release dates, add a big honking …for now to them.

Dinosaur Buttholes. That's It. That's the Post.

What did a dinosaur’s butt look like? This fossil tells us.:

Now I finally have a clearer view, thanks to a fossil of a horned dinosaur called Psittacosaurus, described in a paper online earlier this month. These dinosaurs, which lived over 100 million years ago in what’s now northeastern China, were odd little creatures. While belonging to the same branch of the dinosaur family tree as Triceratops, these Labrador retriever—size dinos walked around on two legs and had beaks like those of parrots, cheeks that were each adorned with a flared horn, and, jutting from the tail, a spray of featherlike bristles. Now we also know that they had buttholes like those of crocodiles.

God damnit the Internet is great.

Leto To Return as Joker in Zack Snyder's JUSTICE LEAGUE

Jared Leto to Play Joker in Zack Snyder’s ‘Justice League’ (Exclusive) | Hollywood Reporter:

Jared Leto, who played classic DC villain The Joker in 2016’s Suicide Squad, has joined the reshoots for the “Snyder Cut,“ the filmmaker’s definitive version of the 2017 superhero movie he was forced to exit and he never saw through completion, multiple sources tell The Hollywood Reporter.

Two horrible tastes that taste horrible together!

Quibi Now Looking to Close Down Entirely

Quibi Weighs Shutting Down as Problems Mount - WSJ:

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaahhahahahaha

Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahaha

hahahahahahahahahahahahaahhahahahaha

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Just a reminder from the past…

Is Anyone Watching Quibi?:

Katzenberg is on his phone all the time, but he is also among the moguls of his generation who have their emails printed out (and vertically folded, for some reason) by an assistant. In enthusing about what a show could mean for Quibi, Katzenberg would repeatedly invoke the same handful of musty touchstones — America’s Funniest Home Videos, Siskel and Ebert, and Jane Fonda’s exercise tapes. When Gal Gadot came to the offices and delivered an impassioned speech about wanting to elevate the voices of girls and women, Katzenberg wondered aloud whether she might become the new Jane Fonda and do a workout series for Quibi. (“Apparently, her face fell,“ says a person briefed on the meeting.)

These were the people who thought they were inventing the future of media.

God grant me a tenth of their confidence. And a tenth of their incomes, too.

But hey, in the meantime, you can finally watch their TV shows on TV. Now. 6 months later. If you stayed a subscriber. Which you probably didn’t.

Update: TheWrap is reporting the official meeting to close down Quibi is happening tonight.

Reebok Announces GHOSTBUSTERS-inspired Ghost Smashers Sneaker

‘Ghostbusters’ x Reebok Ghost Smashers & Classic Leather | HYPEBEAST:

The “Ghost Smashers" are ridiculous in all the best ways.

If you want something a little more standard, here’s the Classic Leather for you.

These shoes hit Reebok’s website on October 31, 2020 with the Ghost Smashers costing $150 and the Classic Leathers for $100.

Mel Brooks Endorses a Political Candidate for The First Time Ever

Mel Brooks endorses Joe Biden: “Joe likes facts”:

With the 2020 election less than a month away, however, Brooks is getting serious. On Wednesday, his son, the author Max Brooks, shared the 94-year old’s very first political video. And, no, he doesn’t want to see Trump reelected.

Something very interesting is in the air this election season.

We’re seeing previously apolitical public figures speak out about the need to vote — or as we see here, specifically endorse a particular candidate, and we’re seeing record amounts of pre-Election Day voting.

I hope this isn’t a one time blip. I hope this is an indication of a shift of political interest in this country. It’s one of the strongest rights we have as citizens, and we’ve ignored it for too long. And while I can’t say I’m thrilled about my options — I certainly want, nay, need to make my vote count this November.

SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT is Heading to Television!

‘Smokey and the Bandit’ TV Series in the Works From Seth MacFarlane, Danny McBride | Hollywood Reporter:

More than 40 years since the Burt Reynolds feature film launched a franchise, Universal Content Productions is reviving the property for television with a new series in development from some of the biggest names in comedy. A network is not yet attached.

David Gordon Green (Pineapple Express, Eastbound and Down) and frequent collaborator Brian Sides (Alaska: The Last Frontier) are re-teaming to co-write a new take on the 1977 Southern adventure pic. Fellow Green cohorts Danny McBride, Jody Hill and Brandon James of Rough House Pictures will also exec produce the potential series alongside Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins and their Fuzzy Door banner. Green will also direct the potential pilot.

You know what? I’m not opposed.

Green and McBride helmed an amazing reboot of Halloween, and McFarlane’s effort to reboot Cosmos was pretty great, so I’d say the property is in great hands here.

SHIN-COOKIEZILLA is the Resin Toy We All Need Right Now

SHIN-COOKIEZILLA BY GABRIEL MARQUEZ & DONATELLO BY BRAD HILL - ON SALE - Bottleneck Art Gallery:

Shin-Cookiezilla is a wild kaiju born from sculptor Gabriel Marquez’ wildly talented imagination and sculpting abilities. Part radioactive lizard, part classic childhood puppet, Shin-Cookiezilla is all fun. And destruction.

Amazing.

The blue (standard) and red (variant) figures drop on Bottleneck Gallery’s site on Thursday for $100 and $125 respectively.

So cool.

CANDYMAN Remake Moves to August 2021 Release Date

Universal’s ‘Candyman’ Finds 2021 Release Date | Hollywood Reporter:

The project, from director Nia DaCosta, had previously been taken off the theatrical calendar due to the coronavirus pandemic. DaCosta, who is also set to direct Marvel Studios' Captain Marvel 2, co-wrote the Candyman with Jordan Peele and Win Rosenfeld, whose Monkeypaw Productions is producing along with BRON Creative.

You absolutely cannot blame them for the shift.

Nothing should be hitting theaters right now. Nothing.

PEANUTS Holiday Specials, Old and New Alike, Move to Apple TV+

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Streaming on Apple TV+:

The classic Peanuts specials, which have aired on broadcast TV for decades, will soon have an exclusive streaming home on Apple’s subscription-based TV platform. What’s more, Apple said it is teaming with WildBrain, Peanuts Worldwide, and Lee Mendelson Film Productions to produce new Peanuts holiday specials, including Mother’s Day, Earth Day, and New Year’s Eve. As for whether or not viewers will still be able to watch the Peanuts gang on ABC, that wasn’t immediately clear — though a source familiar with the matter says the answer is no.

I’ve seen a lot of hand-wringing about this online, but let’s be honest here — eventually, these specials were going to end up on streaming.

Do I want them to be on broadcast, too? Sure.

But something tells me that this is less that Apple paid the crap out of them (and I could be wrong!) and more that ABC (i.e. Disney) was less interested in continuing to license the classic Peanuts specials.

Great News! We're Gonna Have a Hard Time with Groceries Again This Winter. Thanks, COVID!

The pandemic will make it hard to find these foods:

The good thing is, grocers are aware of the possibility of food shortages this time around, and many are preparing by assembling “pandemic pallets” of those food items they think are likely to sell out quickly and/or be difficult to re-stock at short notice. We’ve all had many months by now to assess what happens when people are forced to stay at home for long periods of time, either due to the fact that they’re self-quarantining, or because there’s nowhere to go since businesses are shut down, or else due to the weather being cold and wet so who wants to go out anyway?

Still, before the weather (or pandemic) closes in, you should make one last grocery run to stock up on supplies. Here are a few items you might want to squirrel away before hibernating just in case the whole world goes nuts once again.

Can’t wait for a repeat of the Spring.

I guess I should aim to get all the baking supplies ASAP.

FAST & FURIOUS Franchise to End After Tenth and Eleventh Installments, Both to Be Directed by Justin Lin

Fast & Furious’ Final Two Films: Justin Lin Directs Both For Vin Diesel Series — Deadline:

It’s early days on when this will begin production but it seems likely they will tell a big story over two films that will focus on franchise patriarch Vin Diesel and bring back Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris" Bridges, Jordana Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel and Sung Kang.

I wonder if the push of F9 from 2020 to 2021 made them decide that after the (previously-announced) tenth film that they weren’t going to be any younger and an eleventh should tie it all up?

That said…

Bring on Hobbs & Shaw 2! Giselle and Han: Year One! Tej and Roman: The Legend Continues!

THE DONUT KING Trailer: A Look at the Cambodian Refugee Who Kept Dunkin' out of California

www.youtube.com/watch

This looks fascinating.

The Donut King hits streaming on October 30, 2020.

iPad Air 2020 Reviews Hit the Web, And It's THE iPad You Should Buy

iPad Air reviews: This is the new default iPad - 9to5Mac:

Ahead of the reviews, I voiced my view that the 4th-gen iPad Air is probably the model most people should be buying’ — and the reviews universally agree …

I can’t say I’m shocked here — though I absolutely adore the iPad Pro 2020 I bought earlier this Summer.

I may need to buy one of these for the wife.

Now, if I’m going to tell you one review to read, I recommend checking out that of Federico Viticci at MacStories, as that guy has forgotten more about iPad’s than I’ll ever know.

In his review, he writes:

So, there ya go. If you want an iPad…get the iPad Air.

David Fincher Delivers a Black-and-White Look at 1930's Hollywood in MANK

www.youtube.com/watch

Starring Academy Award Winner Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, Lily Collins, Arliss Howard, Tom Pelphrey, Sam Troughton, Ferdinand Kingsley, Tuppence Middleton, Tom Burke, and Charles Dance.

Directed by David Fincher.

1930s Hollywood is reevaluated through the eyes of scathing wit and alcoholic screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz as he races to finish “Citizen Kane.“

It feels weird to describe a David Fincher film as appearing fun, but this seems like the most non-Fincher-esq movie the dude has ever made.

Oscar-bait or not, I’m in.

And hey, there’s a dope poster for it too.

Mank arrives on Netflix, December 4, 2020.

Full Trailer for Hulu's ANIMANIACS Reboot

www.youtube.com/watch

They’re back! The Warner brothers, Yakko and Wakko, and the Warner sister Dot, have a great time wreaking havoc and mayhem in the lives of everyone they meet. After returning to their beloved home, the Warner Bros. water tower, the siblings waste no time in causing chaos and comic confusion as they run loose through the studio, turning the world into their personal playground. Joining Yakko, Wakko and Dot, fan-favorite characters Pinky and the Brain also return to continue their quest for world domination.

Animaniacs is absolutely 100% back. This looks freaking fantastic.

It’s as if they just decided to make new episodes 22 years later and refused to miss a beat.

Wakko sounds a little off though.

Animaniacs hits Hulu on November 20, 2020.

AOC Streams on Twitch, Breaks Records

AOC’s debut Twitch stream is one of the biggest ever - The Verge:

That peak viewership puts her broadcast among the 20 biggest streams ever, according to the third-party metrics site TwitchTracker, and much higher if you’re only looking at broadcasts from individual streamers. Ninja holds the record for an individual streamer, with more than 600,000 viewers during a Fortnite match with Drake in 2018. TwitchTracker’s metrics suggest that AOC’s stream could in the top 10 for an individual in terms of peak viewers.

Like it or not, this is the future of media — people from all walks of life connecting with different groups of people by meeting them where they are, and sometimes, that’s in a place which is mostly designed for gaming.

Also, I’m pretty sure we’re going to see a lot of hemming and hawing in the media about this, but let’s be honest — this seemed genuine as hell, and it’s nice to see someone in the world of politics (or, someones, given Ilhan Omar’s joining the stream) who seems to have a life outside of goddamned politics.

RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON Teaser Trailer

Marvel Comics Doubles Down on Marvel Unlimited, Changes the Release Window to 3 Months

DC Comics to Kick-Off 2021 with a Glimpse Into The…FUTURE SLATE

A Final (?) Trailer for Pixar’s SOUL Gets Us Ready to Stream This Christmas

Sony Finally Unveils The PS5 User Experience

Macstories’ iOS and iPadOS 14 Review

FURIOSA is GO! Anna-Taylor Joy Starring, George Miller Directing

Disney To Restructure, Focus on Streaming

Superman By Goldfinger, Except It Keeps Changing Genre Every 15 Seconds

Pixar’s SOUL to Skip Theaters, Hit Disney+ on Christmas Day

Our First Look at Amazon Studios’ Animated Adaptation of INVINCIBLE

MCU’s Third SPIDER-MAN Installment Gets a Little Stranger

My Weekend in HADES

New FALL GUY Trailer Promises The Final Movie of 2020. Maybe.

Jamie Foxx Returning as Electro for SPIDER-MAN 3 For Reasons I Can’t Begin to Understand

MOONLIGHT Director Barry Jenkins to Helm Sequel to Live-Action Version of THE LION KING

Hey, Nickelodeon Generation - Get Ready To Relive THE ORANGE YEARS

So, I Guess We’re Getting a NICK FURY Series on Disney+

Nintendo Reveals Halloween-themed ANIMAL CROSSING Update

Artist Tyler Stout Releases a Timed TERMINATOR Print

Disney Shuffles Release Dates Again: BLACK WIDOW and WEST SIDE STORY Head to 2021

James Gunn to Write and Direct 8-Episode SUICIDE SQUAD Prequel Series, Starring John Cena’s PEACEMAKER for HBO Max

Monday Morning Shocker: Microsoft Purchases Bethesda, Creators of DOOM, FALLOUT, THE ELDER SCROLLS and More

Marvel Studios Gets Surreal with The Latest Trailer for WANDAVISION

Happy September 21st, 2020

LEGO Unveils a 1989 Burton-Styled BATWING on #BatmanDay!

DC Universe is Dead, Long Live DC Universe Infinite

SONG EXPLODER Arrives as A Netflix Series This October!

THE MANDALORIAN - Season 2 Trailer

LOVECRAFT COUNTRY’s Jonathan Majors Signs On For a Major MCU Role

Mondo Drops an Amazing SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD Poster, with A Truly Clever Inspiration

Finally, a Look at Denis Villeneuve’s DUNE

The Art of Video Game Hype in a Post-Pandemic World

Pixar Announces Next Film, Luca’

'Paper Girls' Receives a Series Order from Amazon

’Bill & Ted Face The Music’ Now To Hit Theaters AND VOD on September 1, New Trailer Released

Apple TV+ Reveals Ted Lasso’, Starring Jason Sudeikis

LEGO Officially Reveals Nintendo Entertainment System Set, Arriving August 1, 2020

The Clone Wars To Continue, as Star Wars: The Bad Batch’ Hits Disney+ in 2021!

Tom Whalen and Dave Perillo Re-Team for BFF’ Show for Gallery 1988

Hasbro Unveils a 26-Inch, $350 Sentinel from X-Men Figure

’John Mulaney & The Sack Bunch Lunch’ To Return…For Comedy Central!

HBO Max Signs Matt Reeves and Terrance Winter to Launch The Batman’-connected Gotham Police Series

Amazon Greenlights Fallout’ TV Adaptation from Westworld’ Creators

MTV is Reviving Clone High’!

MTV Animated Reboots Continue, Beavis & Butthead’ to Return for Comedy Central

Jason Momoa to Voice Frosty The Snowman for New Live Action Movie, Because What the Hell, Why Not

Lego Unveils LEGO Art’, Mosaic Art Sets Intended for Adults, Featuring Iron Man, The Beatles and Marilyn Monroe

Margot Robbie to Headline New Pirates of the Caribbean’ Movie

New Trailer for Cyberpunk 2077’ - The Gig’

Nintendo Reveals Wave 1 of Summer Updates for Animal Crossing: New Horizons’

I Guess We’re Getting a Twister’ Reboot?

’Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: An oral history of Edgar Wright's super-powered cult classic’

Phil Lord & Chris Miller Come to Apple TV+ with The Afterparty’

A First Look at Muppets Now’, Coming to Disney+ on July 31

’Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ Restarting Season 8 Writing from Scratch

Legendary Animator Glen Keane goes Over The Moon’ For Netflix

Netflix to Relaunch Unsolved Mysteries’ This July

The 2020 Nathan’s Hot Dog Contest to Be Held Indoors, Without Fans

’Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 & 2’ Expands to Include 8 Brand New Skaters

20 Years Later, Aardman Animation to Team with Netflix to Produce Chicken Run’ Sequel

A Quick Look at Otterbox’s Brand New Cases for AirPods and AirPods Pro

Some High Level Favorites from Today’s Apple WWDC 2020 Keynote

Michael Keaton In Talks to Reprise His Batman/Bruce Wayne Role, as The Flash’ Feature Film Heads to The Multiverse

Umberto Gonzalez, The Wrap:

That plot will introduce general audiences to the idea of the multiverse, one of the of core concepts underpinning DC Comics. For the non fanboy set, the multiverse refers to a shifting number of alternate universes that coexist within the larger reality depicted in DC comics. Originally created to explain various contradictory changes the company’s characters experienced over decades, it allows several different versions of the same characters to simultaneously exist and, occasionally, interact. Matt Reeves upcoming “The Batman" will not be affected and Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne is still viewed as the future of the franchise.

Wow! I definitely did not expect this, but I think it’s super cool to see Keaton in the DC Universe once again!

’Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time’ FINALLY Revealed

www.youtube.com/watch

The remastered Crash Bandicoot trilogy was just the beginning.

I’m incredibly stoked to run back another great platformer game.

Also, props for the use of Fatboy Slim!

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time arrives in October 2020.

Min Min from ARMS’ Announced As Latest Edition to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’

www.youtube.com/watch

ARMS is a horribly under-loved game.

Hopefully, this addition makes people check out the game proper. I’m hyped!

Trailer 2 Arrives for The King’s Man’

www.youtube.com/watch

If I am brutally honest, I completely forgot that The King’s Man was a Fall 2020 release.

The trailers so far look very good (even I’m pretty sure this one is cleaning up the undoubtedly Rated-R gore), the cast is great, and the flick should redeem the Kingsmen franchise after Kingsmen: The Golden Circle, but like with most movies hitting theaters right now — I’ll see you when you’re on VOD, gang.

The King’s Men goes back to where it all began on September 18, 2020.

Disney+ Releases Hamilton’ Trailer Ahead of July 3rd Release

www.youtube.com/watch

“Hamilton" is the story of America then, told by America now. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway, “Hamilton" has taken the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton and created a revolutionary moment in theatre—a musical that has had a profound impact on culture, politics, and education. Filmed at The Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway in June of 2016, the film transports its audience into the world of the Broadway show in a uniquely intimate way.

I can’t wait. Going to see the show itself in New York was cool enough, I’m now very excited to see how the filmed version works out.

Hamilton arrives on Disney+ on July 3, 2020.

AMC to Reopen, Stupidly Considers that Enforcing Mask Wearing is Political’

EA Reveals First Gameplay Video for Star Wars: Squadrons’

www.youtube.com/watch

Customize the loadouts of starfighters such as the X-wing and TIE fighter and divert power between their weapons, shields, and engines as you roar into the fray. Immerse yourself in strategic multiplayer space battles and a thrilling STAR WARSâ„¢ single-player story, seen from alternating perspectives between the New Republic and the Empire.

Master the art of starfighter combat in the authentic piloting experience STAR WARSâ„¢: Squadrons. Available October 2, 2020 on PlayStation®4, Xbox One, Origin PC, Steam, Epic Games Store and Virtual Reality (VR) on PlayStation®4 and PC with cross-play support.

Remember when the trailer came out earlier this week and I said “well, the gameplay better look good!“

Yeah. This looks good.

Star Wars: Squadrons takes to the skies on October 2, 2020.

’Daria’ Spinoff Jodie’ Picked Up By Comedy Central

Andy Swift, TV Line:

Jodie, the previously announced spinoff about a grown-up version of iconic Daria character Jodie Landon, will air on Comedy Central, TVLine has learned. The spinoff picks up with Jodie (voiced by black-ishs Tracee Ellis Ross, who will also executive-produce) “graduating from college and entering a complicated world.“

It’s only taken 20 years, but we’re finally getting something close to a Daria spin-off.

Now…about Clone High

Edgar Wright to Direct The Chain’

Mike Fleming, Jr., Deadline:

The novel had been in talks to be acquired by Paramount before it was published last July by LittleBrown/Mulholland, but the deal never crossed the finish line. It has come together quite nicely in this new iteration. Working Title’s Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan will produce alongside Complete Fiction’s Nira Park and Wright, and The Story Factory’s Shane Salerno.

The Chain tells the story of Rachel, who learns that her 11-year-old daughter has been kidnapped. The only way to get her back is to kidnap another child. Her daughter will be released only when that next victim’s parents kidnap another child. If Rachel doesn’t kidnap another child, or if that child’s parents don’t kidnap a child, her daughter will be murdered. She is now part of The Chain, a terrifying and meticulous chain letter-like kidnapping scheme that turns parents from victims into criminals.

Of note, this will mark the first time that Edgar Wright directs a film which he did not at least co-write.

Andy Samberg and Crisitn Milioti Relive the Same Wedding Again And Again, In the First Palm Springs’ Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

Palm Springs made headlines when Neon (who distributed Parasite) and Hulu teamed up to pay the largest fee in Sundance history to get it, and if this trailer is any indication, the movie is worth every single penny.

I cannot wait to kick back and watch this.

Palm Springs hits Hulu on July 10, 2020.

LEGO and Nintendo Reveal Full LEGO Super Mario Line

LEGO Newsroom:

The partnership was announced earlier this year, and in April the fun-packed Adventures with Mario Starter Course was revealed alongside two Expansion Sets. The Starter Course is key to unlocking the entire play, being the only set to feature the interactive LEGO® Marioâ„¢ figure that collects coins in game levels created with LEGO bricks. LEGO Super Mario brings new interactivity and gameplay to the traditional LEGO brick experience.

All sets come with their own series of unique challenges and characters for fans to play with, or to play against friends. In addition to the Piranha Plant Power Slide Expansion Set and Bowser’s Castle Boss Battle Expansion Set announced in April, the Expansion Set line-up includes: the Guarded Fortress Expansion Set, the Mario’s House & Yoshi Expansion Set, the Toad’s Treasure Hunt Expansion Set, the Desert Pokey Expansion Set, the Whomp’s Lava Trouble Expansion Set and the Boomer Bill Barrage Expansion Set.

Also announced today are ten collectible enemy characters that are available in blind bag Character Packs, adding that extra level of excitement. Each pack will contain a buildable character and action tag to play with — it could be a Paragoomba, Fuzzy, Spiny, Buzzy Beetle, Bullet Bill, Bob-omb, Eep Cheep, Blooper, Urchin or Peepa!

All your monies are belong to Nintendo, apparently. Loads of sets, costumes, and even blind bags. Dang.

For a look at all the sets, I recommend this link from The Brothers Brick..

The full LEGO Super Mario line hits on August 1, 2020.

Nintendo Releases Surprise, Free Fitness Game, Jump Rope Challenge’

Richard Lawler, Engadget:

It’s not nearly as full featured as Ring Fit Adventure, but it does encourage activity using the accessories you already have. It simply emulates the jump rope experience using Joy-Cons while counting your jumps on the screen, and even has support for up to two players. According to the company, this game “was created by a small group of Nintendo developers while working from home in Japan.“

Super cool to see Nintendo doing random experiments like this during quarantine.

You can get your own copy of Jump Rope Challenge here.

EA Reveals Star Wars: Squadrons’

www.youtube.com/watch

In a fateful campaign set near the conclusion of the Galactic Civil War, learn what it means to be a pilot in a thrilling STAR WARSâ„¢ single-player story. The New Republic fights for freedom. The Empire demands order. We need you to join the galaxy’s finest. STAR WARSâ„¢: Squadrons is available October 2, 2020 on PlayStation®4, Xbox One, Origin PC, Steam, Epic Games Store, and Virtual Reality (VR) on PlayStation 4 and PC with cross-play support.

This looks very pretty as a CG trailer and all, but especially in an age after the PlayStation 5 reveal, I really need some gameplay footage to get hyped and believe in the potential of a game.

I’m praying that this is the Rogue Squadron redux I’ve long hoped for. I loved Rogue Leader on the GameCube something fierce.

Thankfully, gameplay footage is supposed to be coming later this week, during EA’s “EA Play" event on June 18th. Here’s hoping for the best.

Star Wars: Squadrons arrives on October 2, 2020.

LEGO Introduces Large-Scale Mickey & Minnie Mouse Buildable Characters

Dave Schefcik, The Brothers Brick:

43179 Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse Buildable Characters features the duo of iconic characters in their newest animated versions but in their classically colored outfits, dynamically posed on a solid film-reel base.

I appreciate the idea that these are almost LEGO marionettes, but something about them looks very off.

But hey, if they’re your jam, the set goes on sale July 1st for $179.99.

A Closer Look at Paper Mario: The Origami King’

www.youtube.com/watch

This looks so goddamned fun.

I look forward to swapping between this and Ghost of Tsushima on July 17th.

Dave Chapelle, 8:46’

www.youtube.com/watch

An incredible watch. NSFW language, but a must see.

Sony Unveils the PlayStation 5

PR Newswire:

Today’s livestream also provided fans with a first look at the new games that will define the next generation of gaming on PlayStation 5. Across dozens of titles, most of which are launching as console exclusives or full exclusives on PS5, the world’s most talented developers showcased the potential of the hardware, which will unlock rich experiences for gamers, bringing them deeper into extraordinary game worlds than ever before.

www.youtube.com/watch

You can watch the full stream of the reveal above, but here are the games which stood out for me:

www.youtube.com/watch

Though subsequently revealed as an expansion to 2018’s Marvel’s Spider-Man re-release on the PS5, I don’t think anyone expected a solo outing for Miles this fast, let alone as a PS5 launch title.

www.youtube.com/watch

I am 100% in the bag for this game. Published by Annapurna Interactive, about sad robots and a kitty. I mean, C’mon.

www.youtube.com/watch

The Ratchet & Clank series has been a quiet workhorse for the PlayStation consoles, and Rift Apart looks no different, adding a Portal-esq dimension hopping mechanic, which really showcases the wild things the PS5 can do.

www.youtube.com/watch

Much like Stray, this is just one of those games which I was in the bag for immediately. Space adventure, as designed by a studio I love (Superbrothers) and with a soundtrack by SCNTFC? I am in.

www.youtube.com/watch

Definitely the biggest surprise of the presentation to me, Little Devil Inside looks like the wildest game in ages. Very cool visual style met with what appears to be an ever changing, ever growing set of play styles and locations.

www.youtube.com/watch

The sequel to 2017’s amazing Horizon Zero Dawn, this might be the most gorgeous game ever made? Watch this trailer in 4K if you can. Because, dang.

Sadly, no pricing or release date was announced for the space-age looking PlayStation 5 — still just the “Holiday 2020" date — but after yesterday’s presentation showcasing a breadth of experiences I VERY MUCH want to play (including those which I didn’t mention in this post), I know that for me it’s not a question of if I get a PS5, but when.

The First Trailer for Bill & Ted Face the Music’ Has Hit the Web!

www.youtube.com/watch

It’s taken 29 years, but Bill and Ted are finally returning. I can’t say I expected this one to be a time travel heist, but both Keanu Reeves and Alex Winters seem to have fit back into the roles like a comfy pair of shoes.

Bill & Ted Face the Music is scheduled for a Summer 2020 release.

Apple’s Shift to Their Own Processors Set to Be Announced at WWDC 2020

Mark Gurman, Bloomberg:

The company is holding WWDC the week of June 22. Unveiling the initiative, codenamed Kalamata, at the event would give outside developers time to adjust before new Macs roll out in 2021, the people said. Since the hardware transition is still months away, the timing of the announcement could change, they added, while asking not to be identified discussing private plans.

Pretty wild, gang. They’re going to own the entire process, end-to-end.

Police - Last Week Tonight With John Oliver’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf4cea5oObY&feature=share

Incredible.

That’s it. That’s the post.

We’re Getting a Sonic the Hedgehog’ Sequel!

Justin Kroll, Variety:

Paramount Pictures and Sega Sammy confirmed on Thursday that they have commenced development on a sequel to the family comedy. The sequel would reteam the filmmakers, with Jeff Fowler directing, and Pat Casey and Josh Miller writing the script.

The first movie was way better than it had any right to be, anchored by a great voice performance from Ben Schwartz and Jim Carrey going full 90’s Jim Carrey. I could definitely be into another.

…this is definitely not a post I ever thought I’d put out into the world…

Awkwafina and Karen Gillen to Clash in Shelly’

Mike Fleming, Jr., Deadline:

The story takes place a decade after an embarrassing prom prank ran Shelly Wheeler (Awkwafina) out of town and so hardened her heart that she became an ice-cold hit-woman. Revenge threatens to be sweet when she learns her next target is her former high school tormentor, Dianna Park (Gillan). But when Dianna unexpectedly befriends Shelly, the assassin finds herself in with the cool crowd, protecting her old nemesis against another hit crew hired to kill them both. The tone is Mean Girls meets Barry.

Sounds a bit like the Kevin Hart/Dwayne Johnson flick Central Intelligence, but a bit darker and meaner.

Gillan and Awkwafina are both a welcome delight in any movie I see them in, so I’m very excited to see them co-headline together. Here’s hoping the final product turns out great!

’Upgrade’ Sequel in Production as Television Series

Nellie Andreeva, Deadline:

The series is co-created and executive produced by Whannell and Tim Walsh (Treadstone) who serves as showrunner. Whannell, coming off writing and directing Blumhouse’s The Invisible Man, is set to direct. Blumhouse Television and UCP are collaborating on the adaptation, which has opened a writers room.

Upgrade the series picks up a few years after the events of the film and broadens the universe with an evolved version of STEM and a new host — imagining a world in which the government repurposes STEM to help curb criminal activity.

Upgrade is probably one of the best movies of 2018 which you haven’t seen yet. It’s a fantastically gory, ridiculous, fun action movie which, I’m pretty sure, that is everything Venom wanted to be, but way better.

I’m very glad to see the story continue, and I’m intrigued by the path its taking as a sequel series as opposed to a sequel film.

LEGO Unveils 3,696 Piece Technic Lamborghini Sian Model for June Release

Edwinder Singh, The Brothers Brick:

Too pricey for my blood, but it’s a gorgeous set.

For a comparison, here’s what a real-live Lamborghini Sian looks like:

You can click through the source link above for a full gallery of the set to take in all the details.

Henry Cavill in Discussions to Return as Superman

Umberto Gonzalez & Ross A. Lincoln, TheWrap:

The extent of Cavill’s return to the role — whether just for additional work to be done for the upcoming “Snyder Cut" of “Justice League" or for appearances in future films — has not been disclosed.

This is great news. Henry Cavill is and was a fantastic Superman who was dramatically let down by the movies he was given (see also Ben Affleck’s Batman), and I think the world has seen that between his turns in The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Mission: Impossible - Fallout and The Witcher, that Cavill is a true star.

I look forward to them getting it right this time.

Martin Scorsese Continues To Get Flush with Streaming Cash, Apple to Team With Paramount to Fund Killers of the Flower Moon’

Justin Kroll, Variety:

Sources tell Variety that Paramount will still distribute the murder mystery drama, with Apple coming on to finance the pic and also serve as the film’s creative studio. Deals still have not closed, but sources add that they’re very likely to in the coming days.

Imperative Entertainment, whose partners Dan Friedkin and Bradley Thomas acquired the book in 2016, will produce the film. Imperative first bought the book and would later bring on Scorsese and DiCaprio to reteam on the project before bringing it to Paramount.

Based on David Grann’s non-fiction book, “Killers of the Flower Moon" is set in 1920s Oklahoma, where the newly created Bureau of Investigation began investigating a string of murders of wealthy Osage Indians who had been granted revenue rights to oil discovered under their lands. The book carries the subtitle “The Osage Murders and the Birth of the F.B.I.“

This flick is gonna cost a brisk $180-200 Million.

Respect to Scorsese for recognizing that the iron is hot, and striking.

Amazon To Reboot The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo’ as a TV Series

Variety:

The project, which is currently titled “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,“ will not be a sequel or continuation of the story from the books or the films into which they were adapted. It will instead take Salander and place her in today’s world with a wholly new setting, new characters, and a new story.

Third time is the charm, I guess? Once again, just let the originals lie.

Apple TV+ Becomes The Home to All Things Fraggle Rock’

Josef Adalian, Vulture:

Pretty exciting to see Fraggle Rock get properly introduced to a new generation.

As for me, I’ll see how my memories of the show hold up.

’Doctor Strange’ Director Scott Derrickson Lines Up Labyrinth’ Sequel

Mike Fleming, Jr., Deadline:

I’m really quite very unsure and anxious about Labyrinth being revisited, but given how goddamned good the Netflix Dark Crystal series was, I think the chances of this turning out good are higher than you’d expect.

Fingers and toes crossed, gang.

20 Years of Gorillaz To Be Celebrated in First-Ever Gorillaz Almanac’

Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone:

The Gorillaz Almanac, published by Z2 Comics, will feature 120-plus full-color pages featuring Hewlett’s artwork for the band. The hardcover book will also boast exclusive new artwork, the first-ever comic strip starring 2D, Noodle, Murdoc Niccals and Russel Hobbs, plus “puzzles, games and a raft of special guest appearances from Gorillaz collaborators past and present.“

The Gorillaz Almanac is available for pre-order now in standard, deluxe and super-deluxe variants, all including a CD from Season 1 of Song Machine. 

Based on the aftermarket pricing for the first Gorillaz book, Rise of the Ogre, I recommend pre-ordering this ASAP, if you’re at all interested.

Edgar Wright’s Last Night in Soho’ Officially Pushed to April 2021

Zach Sharf, IndieWire:

“Haunted by someone else’s past, but we’ll see you in the future,“ Wright wrote to his Twitter followers while announcing the film’s new release date. “It’s true, Last Night in Soho’ is not quite finished yet due to Covid-19. But, I’m excited for you all to experience it, at a big screen near you, on April 23, 2021.“

A totally understandable and sensible push back. I will look forward to its release, whenever it may be.

’Tuca & Bertie’ Rescued - Season 2 to Land on Adult Swim

Margeaux Sippell, TheWrap:

The network gave the Tiffany Haddish and Ali Wong-voiced cartoon a season two pickup after Netflix canceled it after one season last July.

The new, 10-episode second season is set to have a domestic release in 2021.

“I’ve been a fan of Adult Swim shows since my teens, so I’m thrilled to bring my beloved fowl to the party and be a new voice for a fresh decade of absurd, irreverent, yet heartwarming adult animation,“ said creator Lisa Hanawalt, who worked as a producer and production designer on “Bojack Horseman.“

I hadn’t watched the show myself, but I know some people are absolutely beaming with excitement right now. Well done, Adult Swim.

Jon Stewart’s Irresistible’, The Next Movie to Skip Theaters for VOD

Brian Welk, TheWrap:

The film from Focus Features stars Steve Carell and Rose Byrne and was meant to open in theaters on May 29.

“Irresistible" will be available for a 48-hour rental period for $19.99 beginning on June 26 on nearly all on-demand platforms including — Amazon, Apple, Comcast, DirecTV, Fandango, Google/YouTube, Charter/Spectrum, Verizon, Microsoft, Dish, Sony, Cox, Altice, Vudu, Frontier, and Row8.

It’s worth noting that Focus Features is the “indie" brand of Universal Pictures, so, technically, this continues the trend.

And now the running list is:

For a reminder about Irresistable and what it was about, here’s the trailer.

www.youtube.com/watch

Irresistable hits VOD on June 26, 2020.

The New Trailer for Christopher Nolan’s Tenet’ is HERE

And lo, ladies and gentlemen, this is what the future of the film industry rests upon, as Warner Bros (and the moviegoing public) has held their breath and hope to say that Tenet will be the movie people will return to theaters for.

www.youtube.com/watch

That said, with a release date up in the air, who knows when we’ll see it.

From this new trailer, what’s clear —versus the original teaser— is that this isn’t about Time Travel, but rather Time Inversion. And what’s up with Robert Pattinson’s accent?

Tenet arrives in movie theaters…eventually.

Charlize Theron is Immortal in Netflix’s The Old Guard’

www.youtube.com/watch

It doesn’t look as good or inspired as Atomic Blonde, but I’m sure it’ll fill a nice two hour, lazy weekend void.

The Old Guard hits Netflix on July 10, 2020.

Sounds Like Sony is Moving Forward with That Madame Web’ Movie, With Director SJ Clarkson Developing

Variety:

While it’s unconfirmed at the time who the character at the center will be, insiders say there is a strong possibility that the film will be based on the Madame Web comic-book character.

In the comics, Madame Web is depicted as an elderly woman with myasthenia gravis and thus was connected to a life support system that looked like a spider web. Due to her age and medical condition, Madame Web never actively fought any villains. For that reason, sources have stressed it’s possible the project could turn into something else. The studio has a list of possible stars, such as Charlize Theron and Amy Adams, but stress that nobody has committed or even met to for the part yet.

Good luck with that one.

Proving That Pestering People Non-Stop Works, Zack Snyder’s Justice League’ Confirmed to Hit HBO Max in 2021

Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter:

The answer to Emmerich’s question, a whispered-about secret for months, was revealed Wednesday when Zack Snyder confirmed, at the end of an online screening of his 2013 movie, Man of Steel, that his version of Justice League was indeed real. And that it will be coming to HBO Max, the WarnerMedia digital streaming service launching May 27, and is expected to debut in 2021.

It is currently unclear what form Snyder’s Justice League will take. Whether it will be released as an almost four-hour director’s cut or split into six “chapters” has yet to be decided, but the Snyders are now in the midst of reassembling much of their original postproduction crew to score, cut, add new and finish old visual effects, and, yes, maybe bring back many of the actors to record additional dialogue.

On one hand…

On the other…

I sure hope we learn the right lessons from this, gang.

I don’t think we will.

I look forward to the calls to redo Star Wars: Episode VIII and IX and the final season of Game of Thrones getting rehashed, at length, again. Because as we all know, disappointment is something that only happens in life and can’t happen in Hollywood.

Sony Pictures Sells Tom Hanks World War II Film Greyhound’ to Apple TV+

So, earlier today, Lucas Shaw and Mark Gurman at Bloomberg wrote of Apple apparently looking to build out the Apple TV+ library with non-original content:

The move represents a subtle strategy shift for Apple TV+, which launched in November with a lineup of original programs. The company plans to keep TV+ focused on original shows, and hasn’t yet acquired any huge franchises or blockbusters for its back catalog, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations are private.

I don’t know if this is part of the same initiative, but word has just broke thanks to Mike Fleming Jr. at Deadline that the Tom Hanks written-and-led film Greyhound (previously) is now moving from being a theatrical release, planned for June 12, 2020 from Sony Pictures…to a direct Apple TV+ release:

This is the latest theatrical-to-streaming shift, which has included:

What’s next? Stay tuned.

Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish, Nira Park Launch Production Company, Complete Fiction

Variety:

Based in both London and Los Angeles, the new company will operate across film and television and is already working with Netflix to develop three new series under the Complete Fiction banner.

The first is “Lockwood & Co,“ a supernatural action-adventure detective series, based on the novels by Jonathan Stroud. The series will be helmed and executive produced by Cornish.

Also with Netflix, the company has optioned the sci-fi horror trilogy “The Murders of Molly Southbourne" from novelist Tade Thompson and historical Middle-Eastern set fantasy series “The City of Brass" from author S.A. Chakraborty.

Complete Fiction, which is independent, has a development deal with Netflix for the aforementioned projects plus one other that is still under wraps. The business also has a number of ongoing feature developments with long-term producing partners Working Title.

I am game for literally anything this group has made and produced thus far, so it should not come as a surprise that I am excited to read this news.

Now, I go back to waiting for Last Night in SoHo.

One Final Trailer for Space Force’

www.youtube.com/watch

Space Force is definitely NOT The Office, but the more I see of the show, the better it looks.

Also, I can’t help but notice the super GI Joe-es voice Carrell is doing here. Not sure how I missed it last time, but it’s slightly distracting.

Either way, later this month, I’m in.

Space Force arrives on Netflix on May 29, 2020.

Phil Lord & Chris Miller to Direct Ryan Gosling Astronaut Movie Based on Forthcoming Andy Weir Novel

Variety:

Sources say that before Gosling had even finished reading the manuscript, he was lobbying to execs that it seemed like the perfect project for Lord and Miller. The one hurdle that needed to be overcome was making sure Universal, which just signed the duo to a first-look deal, was OK with Lord and Miller making this their next project. MGM chief Michael De Luca and Universal chairman Donna Langley have a long-standing relationship, and following discussions between the two studios, Uni gave its blessing for the project to move forward.

So, you’ve got:

Now, that book doesn’t hit until Spring 2021, but it sounds pretty rad:

Yep, very much in the vein of The Martian. I’m there.

Facebook Purchases Giphy for $400 Million, GIF App to Join Instagram Team

Facebook PR:

A lot of people in our community already know and love GIPHY. In fact, 50% of GIPHY’s traffic comes from the Facebook family of apps, half of that from Instagram alone. By bringing Instagram and GIPHY together, we can make it easier for people to find the perfect GIFs and stickers in Stories and Direct. Both our services are big supporters of the creator and artist community, and that will continue. Together, we can make it easier for anyone to create and share their work with the world.

We’ve used GIPHY’s API for years, not just in Instagram, but in the Facebook app, Messenger and WhatsApp. GIPHY will continue to operate its library (including its global content collection), and we’re looking forward to investing further in its technology and relationships with content and API partners. People will still be able to upload GIFs; developers and API partners will continue to have the same access to GIPHY’s APIs; and GIPHY’s creative community will still be able to create great content.

How soon until Facebook requires companies which wish to use the GIPHY API to also insert their tracking and libraries into their app/site?

Woof.

LEGO Introduces Wild New Monkie Kid’ Line Based on Chinese Legend

George Miller Moving Forward with Next Mad Max’ Movie: A Prequel About Furiosa

Kyle Buchanan, The New York Times:

Just don’t expect Charlize Theron to play her.

When we discussed the production of “Fury Road" for a new oral history, Miller confirmed rumors that he is moving ahead with a stand-alone movie about the action film’s heroine, who became a fan favorite thanks to Theron’s determined portrayal. Still, for those hoping to see the Oscar-winning actress back in the driver’s seat, you may have to adjust your expectations: The film is a prequel centered on a young Furiosa, and Miller is searching for an actress in her 20s to take over the role.

That oral history (again) is here.

Personally, I can’t wait to see a pre-Fury Road Furiosa, as she gets to the point of being a War Rig driver.

Could be amazing.

A key note from the write-up:

So, no Charlize Theron. But a lot more crazy cars. Hell yes.

Nintendo Surprise Announces New Paper Mario’ Game - The Origami King’ for July Release!

Fresh off the internet wire - Nintendo is releasing a new Paper Mario this July!

www.youtube.com/watch

BusinessWire.com PR:

Luckily, Mario is equipped with a range of new tools at his disposal to help secure victory. One of Mario’s new abilities, called 1000-Fold Arms, allows you to interact with the landscape by stretching out and pulling, peeling and revealing new locations, helping you to solve puzzles and uncover unexpected surprises. Along the way, you’ll enlist the help of characters old and new, such as King Olly’s good-natured sister, Olivia, along with a range of unlikely allies, including Bowser himself! If they haven’t yet folded to the whims of King Olly’s origami will, Mario will accept all the help he can find with open arms!

Paper Mario: The Origami King also introduces a new ring-based battle system that lets you flex your puzzle-solving skills to line up scattered enemies and maximize damage. While the enemies may be crafted from paper, these dynamic, turn-based battles are far from stationary. It’ll require a sharp mind to make short work of these crafty enemies.

With a detail-rich world to explore, off-the-wall mini-game events and countless mysteries waiting to be solved, the next joyful Mario adventure on Nintendo Switch is ready to deliver huge helpings of crafts and laughs.

There were rumors that we’d see a new Paper Mario soon, but I don’t think anyone expected it this quickly.

I love the visual style - the contrast between the 2D paper’ and 3D origami’ is so cool.

I’m in.

Paper Mario: The Origami King releases for Nintendo Switch on July 17, 2020.

Schrodinger’s Film, The New Mutants’ Now Set for August 2020 Release

Brian Welk, TheWrap:

For those keeping track at home, this is the fifth release date scheduled for the film.

Just drop the sucker on VOD, gang.

Thus far:

The New Mutants hits Disney+HBO MAX on June 7, 2025.

Audible Assembles A Stunning Cast for Audio Adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman’

I have to admit, for a second, I thought this was the cast of the Netflix series in the works, and I was beyond stoked, but, I guess an audiobook will have to do for now.

The audiobook version of the classic comic book series The Sandman — adapting the first three volumes — is available for pre-order now, here, and will arrive this July.

If you’ve never read it, there’s a reason it’s a modern classic. Given the cast and crew behind this adaptation, I’m sure it will be a glorious listen.

The Sandman arrives on Audible on July 15, 2020.

An Incredible Oral History of the Impossible Mad Max: Fury Road’

Kyle Buchanan, The New York Times:

To celebrate the (holy shit) fifth anniversary of Mad Max: Fury Road, Kyle Buchanan does the lords work and puts together an absolutely enthralling oral history of the best film of the 2010’s.1

So far, I’ve just read up to when they finally began production, and I knew I had to share it with you all. Enjoy.

An Adaptation of Jeff Lemire’s Sweet Tooth’ to Move Forward at Netflix

Run The Jewels to Drop RTJ4’ on June 5, 2020

Pitchfork:

Here’s your tracklist:

You can pre-order the album (along with assorted goodies) here.

Run the Jewels 4 gets in your ear holes on June 5, 2020.

Katee Sackhoff to Join The Mandalorian’ Season 2 (SPOILERS)

Mild Spoilers for The Mandalorian Season 2 Follow

/Film:

Although both Lucasfilm and Sackhoff’s reps declined to comment, we have confirmed this story with multiple sources. She filmed her role back in February before Hollywood production shut down due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

Love it, though I can already hear Star Wars fans moaning about how close The Mandalorian may be to tying into Clone Wars and Rebels.

The Mandalorian Season 2 hits Disney+ in Fall 2020.

’Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater’ Returns in an HD Collection for Modern Consoles

www.youtube.com/watch

-Skate as the legendary Tony Hawk and the full pro roster -Skate to songs from the era-defining soundtrack -Hit insane trick combos with the iconic handling of the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series -Play all the original game modes and go head-to-head with local 2-Player modes -Show off your style and creativity with upgraded Create-A-Park and Create-A-Skater features -Take your sessions online and compete against players from around the world in multiplayer modes and leaderboards

Break skateboarding boundaries, show off your own style, and be part of the next generation of skaters and creators with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2.

Most of the soundtrack is back, but, personally, so long as I get the game feeling right with Goldfinger’s “Superman" playing, I’m set.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 & 2 hits consoles on September 4, 2020.

Hannah Gadsby Returns This Month with Douglas’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziIwxPCeByU&feature=emb_title

How do you follow up a comedy special / cultural moment like Nanette?

With a special named after your pet dog, apparently.

Again, Netflix leaves the work mostly open by giving us just a taste of the special in the trailer (above), but Gadsby is sure right about y’all.

Hannah Gadsby: Douglas arrives on Netflix on May 26, 2020.

Sony Announces PlayStation Studios’, a Brand for All First-Party Games

GamesIndustry.biz:

The PlayStation Studios brand will go live alongside PlayStation 5 later this year, and will only be used on games developed and managed by Sony.

Alongside the logo, PlayStation has created a new opening video that will appear at the start of its games. The video features characters from Uncharted, LittleBigPlanet, God of War, Ratchet & Clank, Horizon: Zero Dawn and The Last of Us. You can check out the video below.

Here’s that intro video:

www.youtube.com/watch

I love Sony’s First Party lineup, so I’m glad to see them really pushing how much these games are PlayStation first.

Filmed Version of Broadway Show Hamilton’ to Hit Disney+ on July 3, 2020

Disney+ and Lin Manuel Miranda broke the Internet this morning with a simple Tweet or two.

twitter.com/disneyplu…

twitter.com/Lin_Manue…

Originally scheduled for a theatrical release in Fall 2021, the streaming service and musical maestro surprised us all with today’s announcement.

The recorded version of the smash musical will instead be headed straight home on July 3 of this year, on the massively successful Disney+ platform.

That’s some good news for a Tuesday Morning.

Hamilton hits Disney+ on July 3, 2020.

Temuera Morrison To Return to Star Wars’ for The Mandalorian’ Season 2 (SPOILERS)

APPARENT SPOILERS for The Mandalorian SEASON TWO FOLLOW

The Hollywood Reporter:

Sources say Morrison will play Boba Fett, the famed bounty hunter who first appeared on the big screen in 1980’s Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and who seemingly died in 1983’s Return of the Jedi as he fell into a sarlacc pit. Actor Jeremy Bulloch portrayed the character in the original trilogy.

Boba Fett is expected to play just a small role in season two of the series, after the character was teased in the season one episode “The Gunslinger,” when a mysterious figure sporting the bounty hunter’s trademark spurs approached the apparently lifeless body of Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen).

Add that to the apparent casting of Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka Tano, and The Mandalorian Season 2 is looking to have a lot more familiar faces than the first season did.

Personally, I’d be fine with The Mandalorian continuing to chart out unseen eras and characters from the Star Wars saga, but if I’m going to trust anyone here, it’s the braintrust of Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni.

The Mandalorian Season 2 is currently set to hit Disney+ in Fall 2020.

Mike Flanagan To Continue His Series of Stephen King Adaptations with Revival’

The Hollywood Reporter:

Flanagan is writing the script with an option to direct. Flanagan and Macy will produce via the pair’s Intrepid Pictures.

The novel focused on the relationship between a heroin-addicted musician and a dubious faith healer with a hidden agenda. The minister is obsessed with trying to find a way to communicate with his departed wife and child but ends up connecting to a Lovecraftian horror.

Revival is one of the King novels which I haven’t read, but my understanding is that it’s sort of a Frankenstein-esq tale.

What I do know is that I absolutely loved Doctor Sleep (which reminds me, I need to give the Director’s Cut a spin), so I’m game to see what Flanagan does with Revival.

Elisabeth Moss Plays Horror Author Shirley Jackson in 'Shirley'

www.youtube.com/watch

I swear, Neon is almost at A24 level as a distribution company, where whatever they release, I’m interested in seeing.

Shirley hits theaters and VOD on June 5, 2020.

Judd Apatow Works His Magic on Pete Davidson in the First Trailer for 'The King of Staten Island'

www.youtube.com/watch

This summer, Apatow directs Saturday Night Live breakout Pete Davidson in a bracing comedy about love, loss and laughter on Staten Island.

Scott (Davidson) has been a case of arrested development ever since his firefighter father died when he was seven. He’s now reached his mid-20s having achieved little, chasing a dream of becoming a tattoo artist that seems far out of reach. As his ambitious younger sister (Maude Apatow, HBO’s Euphoria) heads off to college, Scott is still living with his exhausted ER nurse mother (Oscar® winner Marisa Tomei) and spends his days smoking weed, hanging with the guys—Oscar (Ricky Velez, Master of None), Igor (Moises Arias, Five Feet Apart) and Richie (Lou Wilson, TV’s The Guest Book)—and secretly hooking up with his childhood friend Kelsey (Bel Powley, Apple TV+’s The Morning Show).

But when his mother starts dating a loudmouth firefighter named Ray (Bill Burr, Netflix’s F Is for Family), it sets off a chain of events that will force Scott to grapple with his grief and take his first tentative steps toward moving forward in life.

The film also stars Steve Buscemi as Papa, a veteran firefighter who takes Scott under his wing, and Pamela Adlon (FX’s Better Things) as Ray’s ex-wife, Gina.

This is definitely the Trainwreck for Davidson, but goddamnit, the “Apatow Way" of having bracing humor meet strong emotions gets me every single time.

I’m there this June. Even if it probably runs a good half hour too long.

The King of Staten Island hits VOD on June 12, 2020.

First Look at Patton Oswalt’s New Netflix Special, 'I Love Everything'

www.youtube.com/watch

I really enjoy how Netflix now basically uses their trailers to play out a full gag from a special.

Never the less, it seems that — much like his life — Patton Oswalt’s new standup special, I Love Everything, is going to be considerably less maudlin than the prior, absolutely blow away Annihilation.

Something I think is really cool is that Oswalt has put an entire comedy special - that of Bob Rubin - post-credits to this special. Nice way to use the halo of your own notoriety to give another comic a lift.

Patton Oswalt: I Love Everything arrives on Netflix on May 19, 2020.

Of All 90’s Comics, 'Prophet' to Get a Movie Written By 'Arrow'’s Marc Guggenheim

Deadline:

The aim is to build a franchise around John Prophet, a DNA enhanced super-soldier placed into a cryogenic freeze for a future mission only to awaken prematurely in the present, searching for a mission that does not exist. The ruthless berserker must find his humanity.

Pic is produced by Adrian Askarieh (Hitman: Agent 47), Brooklyn Weaver (Run All Night), and Rob Liefeld. John Hyde and Terissa Kelton will also be involved in producing capacities.

I’m assuming then, that we’re getting a movie based on the EXTREME 90’s version, not the really cool more recent weird European sci-fi reboot.

Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt to Re-Team for Ball and Chain’

Deadline:

Here’s the description from the four-part comic book published in 1999: Edgar and Mallory Bulson have decided to throw in the towel. That was the plan anyway, until a mysterious meteor bathed the battling couple in extraterrestrial energies that gave them super-powers. Will their newfound abilities be enough to make their marriage work?

Sadly, Jungle Cruise—which, legitimately, was one of the movies I was most looking forward to this Summer—was pushed back to Summer 2021, but clearly, Blunt and the Rock enjoyed working with each other enough to come back for round two.

Also of note, the script for Ball and Chain is written by Emily V. Gordon, of The Big Sick and used-to-book-Meltdown fame.

I’d never heard of the comic before now, but if you’re so inclined, it appears to be a comic you can get pretty cheap.

UPDATE: May 14, 2020 - the movie has been picked up by Netflix.

Trolls World Tour Gets a Second Controversy: Actors Want Their Bonuses

The Hollywood Reporter:

Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that the Trolls sequel’s top voice stars, including Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick, also were not informed ahead of the March 16 announcement that the film would be available to rent for $20 online. This is not the sort of surprise such people usually like, and it’s a sensitive matter because compensation for big stars in animated films is largely tied to box office bonuses. The stars' reps are now asking for them to be paid, no doubt to the tune of seven figures, but they were still game to publicize the film.

Another prime example where being the first to do something (at least at this level) results in some existing plans and processes needing to be altered.

I’m reminded of when the WWE shifted from their monthly PPV model to a streaming subscription model.

Typically, the performers on the show would receive a paid bonus based on the PPV performance. With more people moving to paying a lower, monthly fee, the payment plan had to be shifted, right?

Well, that was in February 2014, and still hasn’t been addressed, so I wish Mr. Timberlake and Ms. Kendrick all the luck in the world.

New Story Trailer for THE LAST OF US - PART II

www.youtube.com/watch

Finally set to arrive on June 19 of this year, Sony has released a new story trailer for The Last of Us - Part II.

While many of the story details have leaked (thanks to hackers, which is always fun), this trailer still is incredibly brutal and affecting, much how the game itself should be when it lands on PlayStation consoles worldwide in just about a month.

I’m not as into The Last of Us as many gamers are — I thought the gameplay was fine, but greatly outshone by the storytelling — but I’m excited to see the final product.

If nothing else, it helps to know where the sure-to-be-awesome HBO series will go.

The Last of Us - Part II hits PlayStation 4 on June 19, 2020.

A Look at the Rise, Fall, and Rise of Director Josh Trank

Polygon:

Provoked by a review suggesting that Fantastic Four be “studied in film schools as an example of what not to do,“ the writer-director fired off 138 vicious characters without so much as a reread to catch his typo. The responses were immediate. He had champions who praised the gall it took to slap back against The Man, and detractors who thought the whole episode was maybe a little gauche. Drowning in a sea of notifications, Trank finally picked up the phone when his manager called.

“He was afraid of what was gonna happen to me,“ Trank told me of the dizzying moment. “I was messing with one of the most powerful corporations in the world.“

That’s the intro for a lengthy, incredibly interesting read, looking at the career of director Enfant Terrible Josh Trank - discussing his rise (Chroncile), fall (Fantastic Four & the lost Boba Fett movie), and hopeful rise again (the forthcoming Capone), and finally answers a lot of questions and addresses rumors about his career.

Very recommended read.

Some Brief Thoughts on Streets of Rage 4

It’s October 1993. I’m turning 9 years old. My birthday party, arranged by my mother, is being held at Discovery Zone. For those who don’t remember, Discovery Zone was sort of a more play-based version of Chuck E. Cheese. Less mouse mascots, more indoor zip-lines and ball pits to climb through. It’s pretty much exactly what a 10 year old would want.

That said, my real want at the time was a Sega Genesis.

Somehow, I’d almost completely missed owning a video game system as a child. Besides a secondhand Atari 2600 which didn’t do much to hold my attention, my only exposure to video games was through my relative’s Nintendo and Super Nintendo Entertainment Systems. I never had one of my own.

But lo, on that fateful birthday, I opened the gift wrapping from a large present from my mother, and there it was. The Sega Genesis. But not just any Genesis, it was the “Fighting System", which at the time, included my hoped for Sonic the Hedgehog, a mail-in slip for Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and some other game…Streets of Rage 2.

I was on cloud nine.

I came home that night, and after putting some time into Sonic the Hedgehog, which was as exciting and attitude-filled as the game promised, I decided to give this “Streets of Something" a shot.

And then I heard this music drop.

www.youtube.com/watch

My 9-year-old brain absolutely melted.

Here was a game which played like the arcade brawlers I’d sunk quarters into at local mom-and-pop eateries (like Final Fight, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Simpsons, and who can forget that massive X-Men cab?), but it was MINE. And that soundtrack. WHAT THE HELL WAS GOING ON.

This is a dopamine hit which I’ve spent my life, through to this very age trying to chase.

Now, literally 27 years later, I’m reliving all of these moments again, thanks to Streets of Rage 4.

www.youtube.com/watch

Hitting PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox and PC this past Friday, I’ve put a few hours into the game, and while I’m recognizing how much my skills have atrophied, I’m pleased to say that the team at DotEmu have 100% delivered.

The game itself is beautiful, with high definition, hand illustrated frames for each fighter. The game play is as punishing as ever, and for better or for worse, the controls are almost 100% the same as before. They seem to have added some weapon tossing/catching mechanics, but…my kingdom for a double jump and a block! Maybe this is 35 year old me speaking instead of 9 year old me. But, I digress.

I’ve played both solo and, appropriately socially distanced online play (though I could do co-op in better times), and the game plays like a dream. This is what Streets of Rage was in my mind’s eye, even if some of those higher-resolution graphics have revealed how poorly I had connected the dots with some of the 16-bit pixel graphics back in ’93.

Simply put, if you’re gaming today, and you have that fondness for the Streets of Rage franchise, throw the money down. You’ll, even if just for a moment, feel that joy again. I know I did.

Oh, and as for the soundtrack this time around? Yep. Still rules.

 

Streets of Rage 4 is available now for Sony PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Xbox One and PC.

Apple’s Online WWDC Set for June 22, 2020

Apple Newsroom:

Pretty cool stuff. I’m not even a developer - though I code a lil’ bit here and there - and I might check some of this out.

First Trailer for Netflix’s Space Force

The first trailer for Netflix’s new comedy Space Force has arrived, and while it’s not quite the Office rehash one would expect, given that it’s a re-teaming of Greg Daniels and Steve Carrell, it does look pretty darn good.

www.youtube.com/watch

What an absolutely looney cast. No idea how they got Malkovich for this.

Space Force lands on Netflix on May 29, 2020.

The Unexpected Joys of Middleditch & Schwartz

Late last month, Netflix — as they are want to do — added to their ever-expanding lineup of comedy specials with something rarely seen in the world of filmed and produced comedy: a series celebrating long-form improv, Middleditch & Schwartz.

Starring the titular Thomas Middleditch (best known as the lead of HBO’s Silicon Valley) and Ben Schwartz (of Parks & Recreation or voice of Sonic the Hedgehog fame), Middleditch & Schwartz is the end result of literally seeing a live comedy show come together before your eyes. They take a prompt from the audience, ask some questions, and then weave a tale running roughly an hour.

Literally, that’s all they’ve got to go on. And miraculously, it works. Sure, it helps that Middleditch and Schwartz respectively have both been improvisers for roughly two decades each, but each of the three specials is truly funny, and more importantly, truly alive.

A lot of writing has been done in recent memory about the media and content people are using to self-medicate during this pandemic. I’ve mostly tried to avoid the topic on here, so as not to bum folks out, but the secret ingredient of Middleditch & Schwartz is the “third member" of the show. The audience.

The live audience, like you at home, lives or dies based upon how quick Ben and Tommy can be on their feet. If it works, it’s amazing - you want the magic trick to continue. But if it didn’t work, you and the audience both would be completely uninterested. This is how it’s easy to see why no one had really ever brought improv into a properly produced format before. What makes the shows presented here so savvy, however, is that both improvisers are willing to break the fourth wall. They acknowledge their screw ups. They point out in jokes. They’re not afraid to engage when they’ve lost the plot. But more than anything, they keep saying “Yes.“ And in turn, so does the audience.

I went into watching Middleditch & Schwartz looking to laugh and have a good time. I left watching it realizing how much I miss being a part of a live show — as a performer or an audience member — but the joys of their show, if just for 50 minutes at a clip, reminded me of how truly alive a great show can make you feel.

Throw it on. Laugh, hard. Have a great time.

Middleditch & Schwartz is available via Netflix, now.

Tom Cruise to Make a Goddamned Movie in Motherfucking Space. What the fuck.

Deadline:

I did my best to homage The Onion in my headline there.

Seriously, while his religious politics are questionable at best and scummy at worst, I enjoy how late-era Tom Cruise has a Jackie Chan-level death wish.

Just sad that he’s gonna get to space before the Fast & Furious crew will.

Get Ready for Extraction 2, I Guess

Deadline:

I haven’t bothered to watch Extraction yet. My Netflix time was tied up with something else (longer post tomorrow AM).

Any good?

The Future of Moviegoing: It’s Like Airport Travel, But Just as Bad!

Consider this an unofficial post-script to this post

Variety:

EVO Entertainment plans to open two theaters on Monday using “airport security-style check-in,“ says CEO Mitchell Roberts. Guests will enter a cordoned area near the front door, where they will be asked if they are anyone in their household have had flu symptoms in the last 14 days. They will also be subjected to an infrared temperature screening, with anyone over 100.4 degrees turned away.

Never mind the fact that many COVID-19 cases seem to be asymptomatic, does this sound like an enjoyable experience you’d pay for, to literally anyone?

I’m good with VOD until we’ve got a flattened curve or a vaccine, gang.

The Baltimore Sun Wins a Pulitzer

Pulitzer.org:

For illuminating, impactful reporting on a lucrative, undisclosed financial relationship between the city’s mayor and the public hospital system she helped to oversee.

Pretty rad to see my local paper win a Pulitzer Prize for what was truly some bold, wonderful reporting.

Now maybe they can get some less shitty ownership

Apple Refreshes 13-Inch MacBook Pro

Apple Newsroom:

This 100% is now the MacBook Pro you want to order. You can all breathe easy now.

Shame that the newest processors are only available with the higher priced model.

Personally, I’ve got a 2019 MacBook Pro via my employer, but I’m definitely wondering what, with a 5 year old MacBook Air as my personal device, I should consider as my next “laptop". Do I go with this? Do I kit out an iPad Pro? Decisions, decisions.

Happy May the 4th: Taika Waititi to Direct/Co-Write New Star Wars Film

StarWars.com:

Joining Waititi on the screenplay will be Academy Award® nominee Krysty Wilson-Cairns (1917, Last Night in Soho), who received a BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Film of the Year on the three-time Oscar-winning film, 1917.

The announcement also confirms the rumored Disney+ series from Russian Doll show runner Leslye Headland.

Gimme that Waititi movie ASAP.

Who Needs E3 When You’ve Got SUMMER GAME FEST 2020?

Eurogamer:

It’s not entirely clear how the disparate elements making up the inaugural Summer Game Fest will be tied together (although there’s a website, which seems like a good place to keep a watchful eye on), but the event is scheduled to run from May through August this year.

At present, 2K, Activision, Bandai Namco, Bethesda, Blizzard, Bungie, CD Projekt Red, Digital Extremes, EA, Microsoft, Sony, Square Enix, Private Division, Riot Games, Steam, and Warner Bros. are confirmed to be involved, and the official announcement says additional publishers will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Sounds like just the replacement that E3 needs. Shame that I don’t see a Nintendo on that list…

Neon Acquires David Arquette Wrestling Documentary

Deadline:

David Darg and Price James directed the doc, which was filmed over a three-year period. Following his infamous championship run as part of a marketing stunt for the film Ready to Rumble, Arquette is widely known as the most hated man in pro-wrestling worldwide. Nearly 20 years after he “won" the initial title, through ups and downs in his career, with his family, and with his struggles with addiction, Arquette seeks redemption by returning to the ring for real this time.

I saw a trailer for this earlier this year, which appears to have been removed from the web, but I can say that the trailer made this doc look like a must watch, even if you’re not a wrestling fan like myself. 

Ben Schwartz. Sam Rockwell. A Mystery Comedy. I’m Freaking There.

TheWrap:

Searchlight Pictures has acquired an untitled comedy pitch from “Parks and Recreation" and “Sonic the Hedgehog" star Ben Schwartz, and both he and Sam Rockwell are set to star in the film, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.

Schwartz will write the screenplay for the film based on his pitch. Both he and Rockwell will star and executive produce in the untitled comedy.

Logline details are being kept under wraps.

Headline says it all, gang. Two of my favorite humans in Hollywood working together. How could it go wrong?

First Look at HBO’s Lovecraft Country

www.youtube.com/watch

HBO’s new drama series, based on the 2016 novel by Matt Ruff of the same name, debuts this August. The series follows Atticus Freeman (Jonathan Majors) as he joins up with his friend Letitia (Jurnee Smollett-Bell) and his Uncle George (Courtney B. Vance) to embark on a road trip across 1950s Jim Crow America in search of his missing father (Michael Kenneth Williams). This begins a struggle to survive and overcome both the racist terrors of white America and the terrifying monsters that could be ripped from a Lovecraft paperback.

Lovecraft Country is executive produced by Misha Green, who also serves as showrunner, J.J Abrams, Jordan Peele, Bill Carraro, Yann Demange (who also directed Episode 1), Daniel Sackheim (who also directed Episodes 2 and 3) and David Knoller (executive producer on Episode 1); based on the novel by Matt Ruff.

Looks pretty dope to me. I mean, I was in with Peele and Abrams producing, but, yeah.

LEGO To Release New AT-AT Set for 40th Anniversary of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

The Brothers Brick:

Check more photos at the source link above.

Should retail for roughly $200 when it releases in August.

Bottleneck Gallery Teams with Lyndon Willoughby for a Series of Absolutely Gorgeous Zelda Prints

Bottleneck Gallery:

Lyndon’s created a series of prints inspired by The Legend of Zelda video game series, chronicling Link’s adventures through both Hyrule and Nintendo’s consoles. The series is brilliantly imaginative and pushes all of our nostalgic buttons!

Lyndon’s prints will be available for purchase on Friday (5/1) @ 12PM ET on our homepage, Bottleneckgallery.com!

These prints are absolutely gorgeous. I love the idea and the execution is absolutely stellar.

[gallery ids=“29235,29237,29241,29236,29239,29234,29238” type=“rectangular” link=“file”]

 

Nab them here tomorrow, and see more of Lyndon’s work here.

Toy Story 4 Director to Take On a Transformers Animated Prequel Movie

TheWrap:

“Ant-Man and the Wasp" writers Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari wrote the script and the film is in the early stages of development. The origin story will take place on the Transformers’ homeworld of Cybertron.

Just make it look like the opening of Bumblebee and we’re golden.

Grey Matter Art Has Two Thor Prints for Thorsday!

Grey Matter Art:

Even with the recent news that the release date is being pushed back a bit, we are still all kinds of excited and we hope our newest upcoming release holds you over in the meantime.

We are pleased to feature Thor & The Mighty Thor Limited Edition posters by UK based graphic designer and digital illustrator, Doaly!

These two “Mighty” 24x36 inch Screen Prints came out just beautifully and although amazing on their own, look even better together, check ‘em out!

Appropriately enough, these prints feel like they should be on a van.

Well done, Doaly.

Here’s the Odinson version…

…and the Jane version.

Nab em both tomorrow here.

Spoke Art Releases a Timed Animal Crossing Print by Tim Doyle

Spoke Art:

Tomorrow at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern we will be releasing Austin-based artist Tim Doyle’s “Let’s Talk Infrastructure.” screen print. This time release will be available until midnight on Sunday, May 3rd.

If you’re like us you’ve been shaping your island getaway and decorating your home with all the newest DIY projects. Get all your projects taken care of today so you can put your tools away, change into that comfy outfit, sit back on your apple chair and order Tim’s Animal Crossing inspired print tomorrow.

Available as a regular 7-color edition and a glow-in-the-dark edition. These 16" x 20" screen prints will be, $40 for the regular edition and $60 for the glow-in-the-dark edition, sorry we can’t accept bells at this time. The final edition size will be determined by the total amount of prints purchased throughout the sale.

I love this, and not just because my quarantine time has basically been Animal Crossing: New Horizons time — when I can get the Switch away from Sam, that is.

Wanna see the Glow-in-the-Dark version? Cool, here it is in snazzy GIF form.

Pick it up tomorrow at 10am from Spoke Art.

Universal Pictures Sees Success Going Straight to VOD, Theaters Get Mad, Public Pissing Contest Ensues

[caption id=“attachment_29206” align=“aligncenter” width=“600”] Photo by Krists Luhaers on Unsplash[/caption]

Well, this sure is fun. In case you’re wondering how the moviegoing experience is doing in terms of surviving the pandemic, if this is any indication, things are great.

It all started with a Wall Street Journal article, where Universal Pictures spoke of the massive success of going direct to VOD with the release of Trolls World Tour:

Three weeks later, “Trolls World Tour" has racked up nearly $100 million in rentals.

With nearly five million rentals in the U.S. and Canada, the digital release has in three weeks generated more revenue for Universal than the original “Trolls" did during its five-month domestic theatrical run, according to a person familiar with the matter. Its performance has convinced Universal executives that digital releases can be a winning strategy, and may diminish the role of theaters even after the pandemic passes.

Yeah, that’s pretty shocking, all things considered.

Personally, I figured with the $20 rental fee (when digital movies are typically $20 to purchase themselves), more purchasers would be pushed away from the rental. Instead, it went well. Really well. So well, in fact…

The same amount of revenue during a theatrical run would have required a box-office gross of $154 million, or about the final tally of the original “Trolls" movie. The sequel cost about $90 million to produce. The original “Trolls" collected $153.7 million at the domestic box office. Universal received about $77 million of that total; about half stayed with theaters.

Understandably, this made the head of Universal Pictures, Jeff Shell, say the following:

I mean, this was inevitable, right? At some point, the nickel-and-diming of the theatrical experience, and the lack of love for the exhibition of film itself, was going to lead to audiences completely ignoring the theatrical format.

Of course, you had to know, the theaters were going to respond.

AND LO THEY DID, with AMC Theatres head Adam Aron going nuclear in an open letter published by Deadline, among other outlets.

Here’s the highlights:

Universal stated it only pursued a direct-to-home entertainment release for “Trolls World Tour" because theaters were closed and Universal was committed to a lucrative toy licensing deal. We had our doubts that this was wholly Universal’s motivations, as it has been a longstanding desire by Universal to go to the home day and date. Nonetheless, we accepted this action as an exception to our longstanding business practices in these unprecedented times.

And here’s the kicker:

Accordingly, we want to be absolutely clear, so that there is no ambiguity of any kind. AMC believes that with this proposed action to go to the home and theatres simultaneously, Universal is breaking the business model and dealings between our two companies. It assumes that we will meekly accept a reshaped view of how studios and exhibitors should interact, with zero concern on Universal’s part as to how its actions affect us. It also presumes that Universal in fact can have its cake and eat it too, that Universal film product can be released to the home and theatres at the same time, without modification to the current economic arrangements between us.

It is disappointing to us, but Jeff’s comments as to Universal’s unilateral actions and intentions have left us with no choice. Therefore, effectively immediately AMC will no longer play any Universal movies in any of our theatres in the United States, Europe or the Middle East. This policy affects any and all Universal movies per se, goes into effect today and as our theatres reopen, and is not some hollow or ill-considered threat. Incidentally, this policy is not aimed solely at Universal out of pique or to be punitive in any way, it also extends to any movie maker who unilaterally abandons current windowing practices absent good faith negotiations between us, so that they as distributor and we as exhibitor both benefit and neither are hurt from such changes. Currently, with the press comment today, Universal is the only studio contemplating a wholesale change to the status quo. Hence, this immediate communication in response.

Yep. No Universal Pictures movies in any of AMC’s theatres, the biggest chain in the world. No Fast 9. No Jurassic World 3. No Minions 2.

But isn’t this cutting off your nose to spite your face? You’re literally grandstanding in public to say “I know we’re going to need massive movies to make our business work post-pandemic, but the studio with some of the biggest films can fuck off.“

I can easily tell you that if this were Disney, AMC would just roll over. (Wouldn’t be the first time.) With this being Universal, they’re making this bold move.

Now, I’m not fighting for either side here in saying they’re “right".

Massive movies with massive budgets need as many people to see them as possible. Theaters are - currently - the best way to do this.

Theaters need movies to show, otherwise, they’ve got nothing.

But in the center is the populace, a group who has been pushed away from theaters by ever increasing pricing for tickets, a regular lowering of the bar of the quality of their experience (between both crummy displays of films, and theaters filled with phone users, texters, and talkers, an experience which AMC almost pushed as an alternative theatrical option, less we forget), and the increase of quality/lowering of price for a home theater experience.

The movie theater should be a premium experience, one which you feel great paying for. There are chains which promote this accordingly (looking at you, Drafthouse and Arclight), and great independent theaters which push the quality just the same (hello Baltimore’s own Senator and Charles Theatre), but for many movie-goers, the options are crap, and not worth the money, time and effort.

You reap what you sow, gang. And this is just another example of how the rapid change of the world thanks to this pandemic is expediting an already existing issue.

Yes, Universal Pictures issued a statement last night which backed things up, a little bit:

But the fact is, at the same time:

The change is already here, folks. The VOD future is the VOD today. The question now is: how will you make going to the movie theater worth it?

Updated, April 30, 2020: Regal Cinemas has joined the fray, so I’ve revised the title from Universal Pictures Sees Success Going Straight to VOD, AMC Theaters Gets Mad, Public Pissing Contest Ensues to Universal Pictures Sees Success Going Straight to VOD, Theaters Get Mad, Public Pissing Contest Ensues. The points still stand.

Bottleneck Gallery Teams Once Again with Florey for a Gorgeous Star Wars Trilogy Set!

Bottleneck Gallery:

Florey’s new set of Star Wars prints focuses on Luke Skywalker’s journey–from his humble beginnings as a moisture farmer on Tatooine to his Jedi training with Yoda on Dagobah to his climactic confrontation with The Emperor. Florey’s created an exceptional series, honing in on one of the most important threads in the Star Wars tapestry!

The set goes on sale tomorrow, April 29, 2020, at Noon Eastern.

I know, you’re probably saying “Another dang Star Wars print set!?!“, but…like…look at these.

Yeah. I know, right?

RUMOR: Sony is Moving Forward with a Trilogy of HORIZON: ZERO DAWN Games

Video Game Chronicle:

Multiple sources have told VGC that Sony Interactive Entertainment has greenlit ambitious plans for the post-apocalyptic open-world franchise, which debuted in 2017 with the ten million-selling Zero Dawn.

Amsterdam-based Guerrilla had always desired to deliver a series of Horizon games — and a multi-part script was written — but the plan was only officially agreed after the original game’s strong debut on PlayStation 4.

If it weren’t for these guys breaking the Mario Anniversary titles news a few weeks back, I’d be a bit more skeptical.

Horizon: Zero Dawn is a great freaking game, so I’m all for more from Sony and Guerilla.

Mondo Celebrates ALIEN DAY with A Load of Sweet Swag

Mondo:

And we also celebrate Jonesy the Cat.

This year, Alien Day (4/26) lands on a Sunday, so we’re kicking the festivities off a little early (call it “Alien Day Weekend”) with two new variants of the Alien Queen Tiki and Alien Egg Shooters, a brand-new set of ALIEN pins from 100% Soft, and a returning favorite now in women’s sizes.

There’s also shirts, puzzles, pins, vinyl soundtracks, and more still in stock and available now in The Alien Collection.

I think I might need to nab that Jonesy shirt and the Xenomorph pin…

RUMOR: Apple to Release Mac with Its Own Custom Processor

Bloomberg:

The Cupertino, California-based technology giant is working on three of its own Mac processors, known as systems-on-a-chip, based on the A14 processor in the next iPhone. The first of these will be much faster than the processors in the iPhone and iPad, the people said.

Apple is preparing to release at least one Mac with its own chip next year, according to the people. But the initiative to develop multiple chips, codenamed Kalamata, suggests the company will transition more of its Mac lineup away from current supplier Intel Corp.

Ignoring the awkward way that Bloomberg writes about these sort of things (“According to the people"), this is really awesome news.

I remember how big a deal it was when Apple was moving to Intel-based Macs, and now they’re going to own the entire device with their own hardware. The line between Apple devices continues to blur.

First Look at DISNEY GALLERY: THE MANDALORIAN

www.youtube.com/watch

So, basically it’s a hybrid of what you’d typically see in the behind-the-scenes extras for a DVD set of The Mandalorian with a splash of Jon Favreau’s fantastic series Dinner For Five.

Yeah, I’m in.

First episode hits on May 4, 2020.

RUSSIAN DOLL Co-Creator Rumored to Be Heading New Female-Led STAR WARS Series for Disney+

Variety:

Details of the exact plot of the series are being kept under wraps, but sources say it will be a female-centric series that takes place in a different part of the “Star Wars" timeline than other projects. Headland is said to be attached to write and serve as showrunner on the series, with the show currently staffing.

All good by me. Now that the Skywalker Saga has been told, let’s get into the margins and the unexplored history and future.

UCB Closes NYC Theater and Training Center

Vulture:

I’d say “This is a sad day for New York comedy", but it’s actually been sad for a little while now.

Looks like Chris Pine is the next to be THE SAINT

TheWrap:

I don’t have the fondest memories of the Val Kilmer version, but maybe I need to revisit it?

Sony Moves Forward With Live-Action ONE PUNCH MAN Film

Variety:

Avi Arad and Ari Arad of Arad Productions are producing the film.

Hugely popular both in Japan and around the world, “One Punch Man" follows the story of Saitama, a superhero who can defeat any opponent with a single punch but seeks to find a worthy opponent after growing bored by a lack of challenges in his fight against evil.

I’ll just say, if there’s any name to be skeptical of here, it’s the involvement of the Arads…

VENOM 2 Gets a Delay AND A New Title

Variety:

No major shocks here. Even Carnage being in it isn’t a surprise for those of us who watched that post-credits scene…and that awful wig.

Shock of Shocks: HUNGER GAMES Prequel Book Being Turned into HUNGER GAMES Prequel Movie, Directed by HUNGER GAMES Director

Variety:

Lionsgate — which produced Collins’ novels into four blockbuster films from 2012—2015, grossing $2.97 billion worldwide — announced the creative team for “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" on Tuesday.

Well, I mean, duh.

Given that the book doesn’t come out until May, I sure hope people actually like it?

Nintendo Reveals Forthcoming Free Updates for ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW HORIZONS

www.youtube.com/watch

Get hyped, folks - bushes, artwork, and a load of holidays are coming to your island, starting this Thursday, April 23, 2020.

Given that Animal Crossing: New Horizons is apparently the best selling Animal Crossing ever already, I’m sure there are going to be a lot of happy island dwellers this week.

Oh, and while I’m at it, if you’re an iPhone user, this app is a great enhancement to your ACNH experience. Couldn’t recommend it more.

The Greatest Online Video Game Pitch I’ve Ever Seen: The SEINFELD Game

www.youtube.com/watch

Seinfield Adventure:

The 90s were ripe for video game cash-ins on popular franchises. In this game we imagine, “What if there was an official Seinfeld point-and-click adventure game that was never released?“

Why Seinfeld as a point and click?

For a “show about nothing" Seinfeld has a surprisingly rich world. There are so many memorable recurring characters, plot lines and locations as the four protagonists navigate new relationships, jobs and rivals.

The show existed during the time of iconic adventure games such as Monkey Island, Full Throttle, King’s Quest and many more.

Point-and-click adventure games often involve some sort of task or mission that requires a mix of conversational skills, puzzle solving, item collection and use. In Seinfeld, conflict also arises regularly from miscommunication or involves novel items (think episodes like The Pez, The Junior Mint, The Statue, The Calzone, The Fusilli Jerry, The Couch, The Big Salad etc). All this melds perfectly with the point-and-click formula!

I have rarely seen a fan pitch with more depth, focus, and overall love than this one. I hope Sony Entertainment, Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld are eyes on with this.

I Guess Its Time To Post Again

Yes folks, like you, I’ve spent the last few weeks in social isolation, getting increasingly angrier at the news, sadder at the lack of movies, downright depressed at comics publishing getting completely halted, and all and all feeling like that I can’t do anything.

What I can do is this. I can give you a distraction.

In turn, I’m gonna start signal boosting goofy/awesome/fun stuff I see online again. Hope you dig.

LEGO Super Mario Revealed, and It’s Crazier Than You’d Think

BusinessWire PR:

Both companies share a passion for innovation and play and their collaboration has led to a reimagination of the LEGO building experience, enabling an entirely new way to play inspired by the beloved video game icon, Super Mario.

Neither a video game nor a traditional LEGO brick-based set, LEGO® Super Marioâ„¢ is a new product line that features an interactive LEGO Mario figure who collects coins in real-life game levels created with LEGO bricks. The new line will let kids experience the playful world of Super Mario like never before. Super Mario will be brought to life in the physical LEGO world and new levels of challenge and styles of play will be part of the iconic LEGO experience enjoyed by generations.

Oh my gosh this is crazy. Check out the video!

www.youtube.com/watch

New Trailer for Disney/Pixar’s SOUL

www.youtube.com/watch

This looks absolutely gorgeous. From the amazing “real-world" animation, to the abstract “after-life"/“pre-life" visuals, Pixar is pushing their aesthetic storytelling forward for sure with Soul.

But as for the story? Wow - I didn’t think they could top trying to discuss mortality or emotions, but now we’re getting into the very essence of being. Pixar is going to mess up some kids (and provide tears to adults again), I’m sure!

Soul hits theaters on June 19, 2020.

The Co-Creator of BOB’S BURGERS Welcomes You to CENTRAL PARK

www.youtube.com/watch

Hits Apple TV+ on May 29.

I’m a huge Bob’s Burgers fan, I love the voice cast, and I love musicals.

You know I’m there day one.

New Trailer and Posters for Disney’s JUNGLE CRUISE

www.youtube.com/watch

This new trailer feels a bit more serious than the last trailer, which had serious Brendan Fraser The Mummy vibes, but Jungle Cruise will still probably be a super fun summer romp.

New posters - “His" and “Hers" variants hit online today too. Enjoy!

Jungle Cruise hits theaters on July 24, 2020.

BLACK WIDOW Gets a Final Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybji16u608U

YouTube:

Still looks like a solid action flick. But will it be stopped in its tracks by Coronavirus like No Time to Die? Stay tuned.

CHEW Continues in June 2020 with CHU

The Beat:

New spinoff series Chu promises to be a delectable cat-and-mouse story and will stand on its own for new readers—but delight longtime fans of the Chew universe—and will launch from Image Comics this June.

“After more than 60 issues of Chew, it was never a matter of if I would return to the world Rob Guillory and I created, but when. I needed a break after the book ended, but it wasn’t too long after that I started missing the characters and the world, and had the itch to return. It was something I approached cautiously because, while Chew was a complete story, I wanted to return to it in such a way it would be new and say something different, and it took a while to find the right angle. Outer Darkness/Chew was a step in that direction, as well a coda, a flower on the grave that was the story of Tony Chu. Chu is a different take on the Chu family and the Chew-universe, and in many ways it is a mirror, the flip side,“ said Layman. “I’m confident readers of Chew will enjoy it, but it’s also something totally new, the story of Saffron Chu, not Tony Chu. She was completely absent from Chew, and this first story arc will tell the story of why that is.“

While Chew’s Tony Chu is a cibopath—able to get psychic impressions from what he eats—Chu’s Saffron Chu is a cibopars—able to learn secrets from who she eats with. Tony is a cop. Saffron is a criminal. They are brother and sister, and they are on a collision course.

I’ve always felt that Chew was one of the most underrated titles to come out of the Image Comics renaissance of the mid-to-late 2000’s. Very glad to see the universe continue.

GREYHOUND Trailer: America's Dad, Tom Hanks, Goes to War. Again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyzxu26-Wqk&feature=emb_title

I’ll be honest, Tom Hanks Gravitas Filled Drama is a guilty pleasure of mine, so I’m already in the bag for Greyhound.

What makes the movie more interesting, however, is that Hanks both stars in and wrote this one.

Greyhound hits theaters on June 12, 2020.

The Last of Us Headed to HBO as a TV Series

Hollywood Reporter:

In a rare development in the world of video game adaptations, the writer and creative director of the game, Neil Druckmann, is also involved, and will work with Mazin to pen and executive produce what is intended to be a series.

Well fuck yeah.

New Trailer for ANTEBELLUM Starring Janelle MonÁ e

www.youtube.com/watch

I could be in to a lot more 42 second trailers which leave you questioning what the awesome movie you just had teased to you was.

I’m in.

Antebellum hits theaters on April 24, 2020.

Ghost of Tsushima Hits PlayStation on June 26th

PlayStation.Blog:

Today we revealed a brand-new trailer that showcases our hero, Jin Sakai. In the past, we’ve shown the world around Jin, but this time we wanted to give you a taste of the people he meets along his journey and the scale of the threat that forces him to transform into a new kind of warrior.

The trailer, below, is fantastic, and completely sold me on Ghost of Tsushima.

My only concern is that the game may be Dark Souls-esq in its difficulty.

Sure hope it’s not.

www.youtube.com/watch

THE BATMAN Director Matt Reeves Gives Us A Look at the 2021 Model BATMOBILE

The Coronavirus Sez: 'No Time for NO TIME TO DIE'

I Have Seen the Future and It is PG (PSYCHO GOREMAN)

www.youtube.com/watch

What the fuck is this movie and where the hell did it come from?!

It’s like E.T. meets a super violent Japanese Sentai movie?!

I MUST SEE YOU PG (PSYCHO GOREMAN)!

Sony Animation's CONNECTED Looks Like Another Step Forward for Animation Technology

Mondo Unveils An Amazing Selection of FANTASTIC FOUR Merchandise

Mashable:

Starting on Thursday, March 5, you’ll be able to head over to MondoShop.com and choose from a selection of items inspired by Marvel’s First Family — so named for being the first superhero team to spring from the minds of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

How AMAZING are these prints?

[caption id=“attachment_28899” align=“aligncenter” width=“600”] “Fantastic Four: Galactus” by Killian Eng[/caption]

[caption id=“attachment_28900” align=“aligncenter” width=“600”] “Fantastic Four: Silver Surfer” by DÁ¡niel Taylor[/caption]

There’s also a series of pins, and a record slipmat (not pictured). Check it all out via the source link above.

Amazon Releases First Trailer for TALES FROM THE LOOP

www.youtube.com/watch

It’s amazing how well they converted Simon StÁ¥lenhag’s visual aesthetic to a series.

But will the scripts match up? We’ll find out April 3, 2020.

Spielberg No Longer Directing INDIANA JONES 5, James Mangold Rumored to Direct

Variety:

Sources say that while a deal hasn’t closed, “Ford v Ferrari" director James Mangold is in talks to take the job. Mangold has been put in this situation before when he took over the “Wolverine" franchise; 2017’s “Logan" was a blockbuster, grossing $619 million globally, and earning Mangold an Oscar nomination for adapted screenplay.

Spielberg will remain as a hands-on producer on “Indy 5.“ According to a source close to the filmmaker, the decision to leave the director’s chair was entirely Spielberg’s, in a desire to pass along Indy’s whip to a new generation to bring their perspective to the story.

Or, alternatively, they could just not make the movie?

I love Mangold’s work, but, we just don’t need another Indy.

Harmonix is BACK, with FUSER

Announced today, the creator of Rock Band and Dance Central is returning with a new music game which seems to be all about mashups and music festival culture - Fuser.

www.youtube.com/watch

When I first heard about this, my thought - like others - was, “Isn’t this what DJ Hero was supposed to be?“, but it seems based on this gameplay video, that it’s more about making mashups and perfecting timing.

www.youtube.com/watch

The official website is here, and the game is scheduled to hit this Fall.

If nothing else, I look forward to keeping an eye on it and seeing how it progresses.

UGLY DELICIOUS 2 to FINALLY Arrive on Netflix, March 6

www.youtube.com/watch

I unabashedly love this era of Anthony Bourdain-inspired food travel shows.

Whether The Chef Show, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner or the original Ugly Delicious, there’s something I truly admire about these shows which somehow balance the celebration of food as an art, but also break down the cultural barriers of “high end" and “low end" dining.

I truly believe the world is a better place when we can say - confidently - that the finest cut of meat at the best restaurant can be held in a similar regard to a warm pepperoni slice at a mom ’n pop pizza shop. That’s the sweet spot, folks, for any type of “art". Culinary, creative, otherwise - let it all flow together into one great world of appreciation.

Ugly Delicious 2 hits Netflix on March 6, 2020.

Jif Peanut Butter and Giphy Collide to Settle the Gif’ Debate

Amazon.com

Yep, it’s a $10 jar of Peanut Butter to end a pedantic internet debate. That’s where we’re at now, folks.

Mattel Announces a Remote Control CYBERTRUCK!

The Verge:

You can order one here.

This is probably the closest I’ll ever get to owning a Cybertruck of my own. (The $20 version, naturally.)

GI Joe Comes to Six Inch Scale with GI JOE: CLASSIFIED

Hasbro Pulse:

This figure leaked out earlier this week, but it’s official - with the release of this exclusive Snake Eyes figure (order it while you can), Hasbro officially moves the beloved action figure franchise into the 6-inch scale, turning it’s beloved heroes and villains into high quality figures, a’la the Marvel Legends and Star Wars: Black Series line.

I can wait for the figures to hit shelves proper, but it’s really cool to see an icon of my childhood like Snake Eyes rendered in this way. My inner child is beaming.

Marvel to Bring Another Spider-Man Series to Shelves: NON-STOP SPIDER-MAN

Newsarama:

Announced as part of Marvel Comics' presentation at this week’s ComicsPRO Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon, Non-Stop Spider-Man will be, according to Kelly, “relentless…”

“Non-Stop Spider-Man is, for me, the best of what Marvel comics can be: relentless action, epic storytelling, mind-melting art, and relevant themes, all grounded by the heart and soul of one of my all-time favorite characters, Spider-Man,” Kelly said in the announcement. “Chris and I want to redline your adrenaline and shatter your hearts, giggling the whole time. Please sign your waivers and gather your safety gear of choice before issue one comes out. I truly can’t wait for this. Buckle up, Tigers."

A dope ass creative team delivering a book during the current Spidey Renaissance? (Seriously, Amazing Spider-Man, Miles Morales and Ghost-Spider have all been good.)

Heck yeah, I’m in.

Here’s the cover for the first issue (illustrated by David Finch), due in June:

WESTWORLD Season 3 Trailer: We Outside Now

www.youtube.com/watch

I have to be honest, I fell off during Season 2 of Westworld, despite adoring the first season.

This trailer makes me want to catch back up for sure.

Apple is Considering Allowing Third-Party Apps as Defaults on iOS

Mark Gurman at Bloomberg:

The technology giant is discussing whether to let users choose third-party web browser and mail applications as their default options on Apple’s mobile devices, replacing the company’s Safari browser and Mail app, according to people familiar with the matter. Since launching the App Store in 2008, Apple hasn’t allowed users to replace pre-installed apps such as these with third-party services. That has made it difficult for some developers to compete, and has raised concerns from lawmakers probing potential antitrust violations in the technology industry.

This is another one of those long-awaited finallys. 

You can do it on macOS, why not on iOS? 

(And I’m a guy who thinks that the standard apps are great for most people.)

Apple is Considering Allowing Third-Party Apps as Defaults on iOS

Mark Gurman at Bloomberg:

The technology giant is discussing whether to let users choose third-party web browser and mail applications as their default options on Apple’s mobile devices, replacing the company’s Safari browser and Mail app, according to people familiar with the matter. Since launching the App Store in 2008, Apple hasn’t allowed users to replace pre-installed apps such as these with third-party services. That has made it difficult for some developers to compete, and has raised concerns from lawmakers probing potential antitrust violations in the technology industry.

This is another one of those long-awaited finallys.

You can do it on macOS, why not on iOS?

(And I’m a guy who thinks that the standard apps are great for most people.)

THE PORTABLE DOOR: Jim Henson Company + Christoph Waltz x The Office & Harry Potter? I’ll See The HELL Out of That!

The Hollywood Reporter:

Patrick Gibson (The OA, Tolkien) stars in the film, which Jeffrey Walker (Ali’s Wedding, Lambs of God) will direct from a screenplay adapted by Leon Ford (Griff the Invisible).

In The Portable Door, Paul Carpenter, a new intern at the mysterious London firm J.W. Wells & Co., becomes steadily aware that his employers are anything but conventional. Charismatic villain Humphrey Wells (Waltz), the CEO of the company, is disrupting the world of magic by bringing modern corporate strategy to ancient magical practices. Dennis Tanner (Pearce) is the shape-shifting goblin trapped in the organization’s middle management. Paul Carpenter (Gibson) is the lowly, put-upon intern who discovers the true agenda of the vast corporation where they work.

This sounds like a blast! If you’d like to read the book series before it becomes a film, the first one can be purchased here.

Jennifer Lawrence and Adam McKay Come To Netflix with DON’T LOOK UP

Deadline:

Don’t Look Up tells the story of two low-level astronomers who must go on a giant media tour to warn mankind of an approaching asteroid that will destroy Earth. Production will begin in April for a release later this year.

Sounds like a fun movie. I feel like Lawrence has some comedy chops which have been woefully underused, so I look forward to seeing what she and McKay can do together.

That said: will it be another Netflix movie which releases to a cultural indifference? We’ll see.

Will Farrell and Paul Rudd to Re-Team with THE SHRINK NEXT DOOR

Deadline:

Also inspired by true events, The Shrink Next Door is a dark comedy following the bizarre relationship between psychiatrist to the stars Dr. Isaac “Ike" Herschkopf played by Rudd, and his longtime patient Martin “Marty" Markowitz, played by Ferrell. Over the course of their relationship, the all-too-charming Ike slowly takes over Marty’s life, even moving into Marty’s home and taking over his family business. The series explores how a seemingly normal doctor-patient dynamic morphs into an unprecedentedly exploitative one filled with manipulation, power grabs, and dysfunction at its finest.

Sounds fun to me!

BIG TIME ADOLESCENCE Trailer: Pete Davidson is the Big Brother You Never Had

www.youtube.com/watch

Much in the same vein of movies like Superbad, The Kings of Summer, Booksmart and countless others, we’ve got another modern “teen-comes-of-age" movie, but this time, Pete Davidson is the outrageous older “brother" for our lead.

Honestly, as cynical as that above bit sounds, I think Big Time Adolescence looks pretty good, and the word out of the 2019 Sundance Film Festival was pretty damn positive. I guess it’s just a bummer that in this day and age, an indie flick sorta just gets dumped onto a streaming service with little-to-no fanfare.

Either way, I’ll be watching it, if no one else does.

Big Time Adolescence hits Hulu on March 20, 2020.

First Trailer for AMAZING STORIES Reboot on Apple TV+

www.youtube.com/watch

I remember (vaguely) really liking Amazing Stories as a kid. In turn, I’ll at least give this a shot, as hey, I still have a free Apple TV+ subscription.

Let’s see how that works out, eh?

Amazing Stories hits the web on March 6, 2020.

Olivia Wilde to Follow Up BOOKSMART with Kerri Strug Bio Pic

Alex Ritman at The Hollywood Reporter:

Produced by Riverstone Pictures and Pulse Films from a script by Ronnie Sandahl, Perfect is the extraordinary true story of gymnast Kerri Strug’s triumph against all odds to win Team USA’s first gold medal at the 1996 Olympics.

The movie will be based on Strug’s biography, Landing on My Feet: A Diary of Dreams.

The movie will be certainly less salacious than recent Olympian bio pics like I, Tonya, but after how damn good Booksmart was, I’ll watch whatever Wilde chooses to direct.

Bloomberg: Sony Is Struggling With PlayStation 5 Price Due to Costly Parts

Takashi Mochizuki for Bloomberg.com:

Call me a tin foil hat wearer, but I think this might be Sony intentionally leaking information to surprise us with pricing and lure Microsoft into a pricing trap.

STRANGER THINGS 4 Teaser: Guess Who’s Back?

www.youtube.com/watch

This teaser was released with a note from the Duffer Brothers, as the series goes into production:

Season 4 is shaping up to be the biggest and most frightening season yet, and we cannot wait for everyone to see more. In the meantime — pray for the American.“

From Russia with love,

The Duffer Brothers

No release date yet for Stranger Things 4, but it’s coming.

The FINAL FANTASY 7 REMAKE Opening Movie Has Been Released

www.youtube.com/watch

I’ll be damned, I guess this game really is coming out.

For a comparison, here’s the original PlayStation Final Fantasy VII opening:

www.youtube.com/watch

Billie Eilish Releases Her Theme for NO TIME TO DIE

www.youtube.com/watch

Pretty dang good, once it kicks in and goes full Bond Theme’. Might be as good as Adele’s Skyfall’?

Once again, of course, this is where I remind people of what could’ve been, and share Radiohead’s theme for SPECTRE.

www.youtube.com/watch

No Time to Die, the TWENTY FIFTH James Bond movie, hits theaters on April 10, 2020.

First Look at THE BATMAN

From Director Matt Reeves’ Twitter:

vimeo.com/391277390

Yeah, I know, it’s really dark (but that Michael Giacchino score!), but the fine folks at Birth.Movies.Death. did that which needs doing and brightened some screenshots, which I’ve embedded below.

I like the homemade feel of the mask.

The bat symbol feels very tech-y, kinda like the prototype suit from Batman Begins. A popular fan theory right now is that the symbol is made from the gun which killed his parents, which feels a bit much, but I don’t hate it?

The Batman hits theaters (and will presumably be much clearer) on June 25, 2021.

BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES to Continue…In Comic Book Form

IGN:

The series will feature DC characters never before seen in the original show, using designs from the recent action figure line. These characters were designed by Templeton in the signature Bruce Timm art style. While DC’s press release doesn’t name which new characters will appear, the line includes the likes of Deathstroke, Azrael, Red Hood, and The Batman Who Laughs, so any of them are fair game.

Here’s a first look at the art. I’m very excited for this.

Issues will hit first digitally in chapter form starting in April, with print releases starting in May.

More Dev Patel Content For Your Day: THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD

www.youtube.com/watch

Well, I guess Dev Patel is gonna have a good year, between The Green Knight and this. Bonus, it’s from Armando Iannucci, who brought us The Death of Stalin and Veep.

The Personal History of David Copperfield hits theaters May 8, 2020.

Where The Hell Did THE GREEN KNIGHT Come From?

www.youtube.com/watch

This is exactly what a teaser trailer is supposed to do.

Prior to hitting play, I knew nothing about The Green Knight.

Now, I’m obsessed with seeing it. Holy hell this looks great. Plus, It’s A24, So I’ll See It!â„¢

The Green Knight hits theaters this coming Summer.

A Sequel to the ALADDIN Live-Action Remake is Happening, I Guess

The Hollywood Reporter:

A sequel to the 2019 blockbuster is in the the works at Disney, with the studio hiring scribes John Gatins (Flight, Real Steel) and Andrea Berloff (Straight Outta Compton, The Kitchen) to plot the new course.

Guy Ritchie is set to return to the director’s chair, while Will Smith, Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott are expected to reprise their roles as Genie, Aladdin and Jasmine, respectively.

I didn’t hate Aladdin as much as many other people I know, but I wasn’t necessarily wowed by it, either. It felt like a high budget traveling broadway production of the movie. So, at the end of the day, I’m not sure who this is for, or why they’re making it.

Oh. That’s why.

A Sequel Series to THE MIGHTY DUCKS Confirmed for Disney+, with Lauren Graham Starring

Variety:

She will star as Alex and Brady Noon is set to portray her son, Evan. Based on the 90s hit franchise, the news series begins production this month in Vancouver and will premiere later this year on Disney Plus. Graham is also a co-executive producer on the series.

The new update is set in present day Minnesota, where the Mighty Ducks have evolved from scrappy underdogs to an ultra-competitive, powerhouse youth hockey team. After 12-year-old Evan (Noon) is unceremoniously cut from the Ducks, he and his mom Alex (Graham) set out to build their own ragtag team of misfits to challenge the cutthroat, win-at-all-costs culture of competitive youth sports.

There’s a rumor out there that Emilio Estevez has been approached about returning for this series as well.

Personally? I need a Kenan Thompson cameo.

Rick Moranis Confirmed To Return for SHRUNK, a Sequel to HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS

Deadline:

Disney was trying to quiet rumors that Moranis was returning, but our breaking news today is that Rick Moranis’ deal, is a done deal.

As previously reported, the pic’s original director Joe Johnston will be back with Josh Gad also starring. The movie centers around Gad’s character who is the son of Rick Moranis’ Wayne Szalinski. Son is aspiring to be a great scientist like his father, but accidentally shrinks the kids.

Rumors about this had circled for a bit, with fan site The DisInsider reporting this casting earlier this month.

Hopefully, the plot for Shrunk is closer to how Deadline describes it, and not as incredibly depressing as The DisInsider reported it:

Yeah. Yikes.

We’ll see when Shrunk hits theaters.

DC Comics Announces DARK NIGHTS: DEATH METAL, And It’s 90’s As HELL

io9:

Beginning this May, Wonder Woman will take center stage in Dark Nights: Death Metal, a new series from Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo that will follow the Themysciran warrior and her few remaining allies on their quest to defeat the Batman Who Laughs after he manages to seize control of the world. With Superman trapped within the heart of the sun and Batman busy trying to lead a human resistance to fight back the laughing Batman’s forces, it initially seems as if Diana’s Amazonian strength alone won’t be enough to turn the tides in the Earth’s favor and slay Perpetua, the mother of the Anti-Monitor. But just when all hope is lost, Wonder Woman gains an unexpected ally who provides her with key intel that could change everything.

I really love everything the Snyder/Capullo team has touched, most prominently their run on Batman, so I’ll be checking out the trade of this when it hits.

That said, the look and feel of this is agressively 1990’s in the best way (looking at you, Long Haired Superman), so, in turn, my enthusiasm may just be from some misplaced nostalgia.

We’ll find out soon when Dark Nights: Death Metal hits shelves in May.

The First Trailer for Wes Anderson’s THE FRENCH DISPATCH Has Arrived

Some thoughts on BIRDS OF PREY

Netflix FINALLY lets you stop autoplaying

The Verge:

People can choose to disable autoplay in two different formats: one that automatically starts the next episode in a series and one that autoplays previews while browsing. Netflix rolled out an option to disable autoplay with episodes in a series way back in 2014, but this new setting specifically relates to the autoplay previews on the homepage.

Learn how to do it here. I’m fixing my account up right now.

Jamie Noguchi reacts to the F9 Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwhHDypFeC8&feature=youtu.be

For the past decade or so, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing movies with one Jamie Noguchi, Super Art Fight co-founder and all around great guy.

I don’t know that I’ve ever known anyone who’s overall enthusiasm about the things he loves has ever been so palpable or enjoyable as his.

So, when the latest trailer for his favorite franchise (Fast & Furious) dropped, and he found himself chained to his desk illustrating his graphic novel (pre-order it here), we knew we needed him to share his gift of reaction not just with us, but with the web as a whole.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is Shakespeare the way it was meant to be performed.

Instagram wants you to unfollow accounts now

TechCrunch:

Wild, I don’t think I’ve seen a single social network focus on the idea of cultivating/editing your follows, not just adding more. Bold!

Hope it pays off and people see the value in “less-as-more".

A Very Cool Concept for Better iPad Multi-Tasking

MacStories:

I love the functionality enabled by iPad multitasking, but the current system is unnecessarily complex. I don’t believe the iPad should revert to its origins as a one-app-at-a-time device, but I know there’s a better way forward for multitasking.

My proposal for a new multitasking system employs a UI mechanic that already exists across both iPhone and iPad. Without losing any of iPadOS 13’s current functionality, it brings the iPad closer to its iPhone roots again and makes multitasking accessible for the masses.

There’s been a big debate about how multitasking is handled on the iPad, mostly stemming from this post by John Gruber, and as someone who works more-and-more from his iPad, I think the suggested revision here would be a brilliant step forward for iPadOS.

Hey, How’d You Like Sam Raimi to Direct Doctor Strange 2?

Variety:

Raimi replaces original director Scott Derrickson, who Variety reported on Jan. 9 had officially departed the project due to creative differences. Derrickson will remain as an executive producer. Raimi, meanwhile, will need to get up to speed before the film’s scheduled production start date in May.

Man, Raimi would absolutely thread the needle of “horror" yet also “general audience friendly".

Hell of a pick, if true.

Scott C. Puts Together the Coolest Star Wars Print I’ve Ever Seen for Mondo

Mondo:

Titled FARAWAY GALAXY, this poster is Scott’s love letter to a film that inspired a generation and chronicles nearly every beat and character imaginable from the film. We’ve been working with Scott and our friends at Acme Archives, who we’ve partnered with on the release, on this poster for a few years and it’s a real pleasure to finally be able to share it with you. If you’re familiar with Scott’s work, it’s lovingly produced in watercolor and usually released as high quality giclee prints. We wanted this one to be a little different, and for the first time, Scott’s artwork will be offered as an 11-color screenprint! We’re incredibly proud of this one, and hope you like it as much as we do.

From Scott, “Every square inch of that movie inspired who I am today and the paintings and stories I create. Every character in that film meant something to me, even the characters passing by in the background. It is incredible to me that a film would make that much of an impression on people that fans collectively remember that there was a wolfman and a praying mantis in the bar. I have always wanted to create a painting that paid homage to every one of those characters. That is what this painting means to me. I wanted to include every Cantina patron, every X Wing pilot and Jawa. The ships were all characters to me, so it was important that they were welcomed in the family. It became quite a party, this painting. It is a place I have always wanted to live within. It was a dream realized, my friends, and I invite you to join me in this world.“

I love this print so goddamned much. It’s a timed edition release (meaning, as many as are ordered between 12pm CST Thursday and 11:59pm Sunday Night will be printed).

It can be yours for $100.

As a sucker for Star Wars and a lover of Scott C’s whimsical art, I’m very tempted.

First Look at SPIRAL, the New SAW Movie Starring…Chris Rock?

www.youtube.com/watch

Between this trailer and the first poster, below, I’m very intrigued to see what direction that Chris Rock (as lead AND producer) is taking the Saw franchise.

I don’t really have any particular love for the Saw franchise (I saw the first one, and that was all I needed to see), but this feels like such a different take on the series that my interest is piqued.

Plus, hey, Samuel L. Jackson.

20th Century Studios to Reduce Output to 4 Films a Year

From a new piece discussing the departure of 20th Century Studios’ (formerly 20th Century Fox) head, Emma Watts, over at The Hollywood Reporter:

This is a heartbreaker.

I recognize that Disney is, in essence, splitting up the Fox name between 20th Century and Searchlight (and I assume that these four are not inclusive of the Searchlight brand), but to see one of the best motion picture studios of all time reduced to four token releases a year absolutely blows.

I wonder - and optimistically, though probably not realistically, hope - if / that a studio can come in and fill the void in general release theatrical releases and creative risk-taking. Looking at you, A24, maybe? Hopefully?

Neural Networks Used to Upscale Film Footage from 1896 to 4K

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RYNThid23g

Denis Shiryaev:

Here’s the original source clip:

www.youtube.com/watch

See, not everything when it comes to AI-based video editing is a nightmarish hellscape.

Just most of it.

Cards Against Humanity Buys Clickhole

BuzzFeed News:

Awesome!

Now, could someone please purchase and free, I dunno, The Onion, Kotaku, Gizmodo, Deadspin and Jalopnik?

Nan Lawson’s Gorgeous Through the Woods’ Gallery Show

io9:

The show is called “Through the Woods,“ and it’s by artist Nan Lawson. It’s open now through February 15 at Gallery 1988 in Los Angeles, CA and takes some of the most famous sci-fi and fantasy properties of all time—Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, X-Men, etc.—and filters them through their most gorgeous, natural settings. The results are subtle nature prints you could put on your wall without anyone knowing exactly what they are.

You can check out the full show (and buy prints or original artwork) here.

Glad to see Lawson pushing herself creatively, these are great.

Definitely was considering that Into the Spider-Verse print (as seen at the top of the post).

F9 Trailer: Either This Absolutely Rules or Has Completely Lost the Plot

Our First Look at Hulu’s HIGH FIDELITY Series

DOWNHILL Trailer: Will Farrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus Star in the US Remake of FORCE MAJEURE

The LEGO Movies Leave Warner Bros, Heading to Universal Studios

ADVENTURE TIME Creator Pendleton Ward and Comedian Duncan Trussell to Bring THE MIDNIGHT GOSPEL to Netflix

The First Trailer for Christopher Nolan’s TENET Has Arrived!

Yet Another Trailer for ONWARD Promises Fantasy Fun by Way of Pixar

First Trailer for IN THE HEIGHTS

An Adaptation of THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER AND CLAY Coming To Showtime

Variety:

The series comes as part of a multi-year overall production pact which Chabon and his producing partner Ayelet Waldman have inked with CBS TV Studios. Under the agreement, CBS will have the exclusive rights to produce TV content created and developed by the husband-and-wife team across all platforms.

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay is simply one of the greatest books I’ve ever read, so I can’t wait to see a television-length series adapting it.

…even if it means I have to sign up for yet another streaming service. Bless you, Apple TV Channels.

GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE Teaser Trailer (Or, No Really, THIS is GHOSTBUSTER 3)

www.youtube.com/watch

Jason Reitman’s taking the reigns from his father in this completely authorized continuation of the Ghostbusters saga (in something which both buries the 2016 installment and gives credence to the doofuses who whined about it.)

I’m of two minds here:

Guess we will have to see how it comes together. At the least, Carrie Coon and Paul Rudd will deliver something watchable. The real question will be: how soon after this will Dan Aykroyd start claiming that the real real really real Ghostbusters 3 was coming?

WONDER WOMAN 1984 Trailer: HEY! I Was Born Then

www.youtube.com/watch

No real glimpses of Kristen Wiig as Cheetah (which I think will make or break the movie), but goddamn does Pedro Pascal look to be having fun as Maxwell Lord!

A Video Game NPC Goes Rogue in Ryan Reynolds' FALL GUY

www.youtube.com/watch

The trailer for the movie is fun, and makes me wonder if (like with Deadpool) Reynolds has a direct line to Disney/Fox marketing, but really, the concept feels like it’d be a short at best.

Also, does enough of the general public understand non playable characters and similar concepts for this to resonate? I know the nerds won and all, but this feels a smidge presumptuous.

Either way: happy to see Jodie Comer (Killing Eve) get a prominent role in a blockbuster.

Trailer #1 for Marvel's BLACK WIDOW

www.youtube.com/watch

Doesn’t look bad by any means - if anything, it feels a bit by the numbers. If you had a mind’s eye version of what Black Widow would be as a movie, chances are, it was this.

In turn, I’m hoping the stellar supporting cast (David Harbour, Florence Pugh, RACHEL WEISZ!~) and the dope choice of villain (Taskmaster!) makes this worth the time at the cinema.

…but let’s be honest, I’ll be seeing it anyway.

What Happens When You Let the Director of JOHN WICK Film a Snowball Fight? SNOWBRAWL

www.youtube.com/watch

Yep, this whole thing was shot on an iPhone. Wild, right?

It's Daniel Craig's Last Time As Bond...But There's NO TIME TO DIE

www.youtube.com/watch

Despite the appearances of both Ana de Armas and Daniel Craig, it pains me to say that this is not the next phase of the Benoit Blanc Cinematic Universe.

I have a hunch that Rami Malek will knock the villain role out of the park, and even if the cameo of Christoph Waltz as Blofeld really just reminded me how not-good Spectre was, this trailer promises that the visuals will stun and the stunts will be ridiculous…so, it’s kind of all you want from a modern day Bond, you know?

A Nearly Eight-Minute Launch Trailer for DEATH STRANDING

GAME OF THRONES Duo Abandons STAR WARS Trilogy, Focusing on New Netflix Work

THE MANDALORIAN - Trailer 2

STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - Final Trailer and Poster Revealed

Kevin Feige to Run ALL of Marvel Creative, Including Comics

Disney Takes You on A JUNGLE CRUISE, With This First Trailer

A Proper Trailer for Pixar’s ONWARD

JOHN WICK To Get Female-Led Spinoff, BALLERINA

BIRDS OF PREY Trailer #1

6 UNDERGROUND Trailer: The Bay-hem and Ryan Reynolds Head to Netflix

Sony and Marvel Make Up, Third Tom Holland SPIDER-MAN Film Set For July 2021

Some Thoughts On Kevin Feige Producing a STAR WARS Film for Lucasfilm

Laura Dern, Sam Neil and Jeff Goldblum to Return for JURASSIC WORLD 3

Jonah Hill and Jeffrey Wright Rumored to Join the Cast of THE BATMAN

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON Director to Take on MICRONAUTS

Hasbro Has Made Its NERF Guns Better Than Ever, But…

FROZEN II Gets Yet Another Trailer

Finally, The World is Making the Bob Odenkirk Film I’ve Always Wanted

Day One with Apple Arcade

NBC Universal Unveils Name and Programming Slate for Their Streaming Service: Meet PEACOCK

Paul Rudd and Paul Rudd Head Netflix’s LIVING WITH YOURSELF

JURASSIC WORLD: BATTLE AT BIG ROCK

New Full Trailer for HBO’s WATCHMEN

This Apple Arcade Ad is Fantastic

That New, Weird Nintendo Switch Game is RING FIT ADVENTURE

New WATCHMEN Featurette Finally Unmasks HBO’s TV Adaptation

Paramount Looking to Remake FACE/OFF For Some Reason

Hailee Steinfeld Circling Kate Bishop Role for Disney+ HAWKEYE Series

THE LIGHTHOUSE Trailer #2

Nintendo Patents Bendy Switch Controllers

Final Trailer for DOCTOR SLEEP

Tom Hanks to Star as MAJOR MATT MASON?

Hayley Atwell Joining MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 6

THE RAID’s Iko Uwais Joins the SNAKE-EYES Film

Nintendo Direct - September 4th Brings OVERWATCH, Super Nintendo, and SMASH BROS Updates

Nintendo Hints at New Experience’ for Switch

LEGO Reveals Massive STAR WARS Imperial Star Destroyer

This Shit Continues to Be Real: BAD BOYS FOR LIFE Trailer

Ben Wheatley to Direct TOMB RAIDER Sequel

A24 Moving Forward with an EARTHSEA TV Series

GRETEL & HANSEL Teaser Trailer

JUST MERCY Trailer

BETWEEN TWO FERNS: THE MOVIE - the Trailer

JOJO RABBIT: New Trailer

UZUMAKI Coming to Adult Swim Next Year

UNTITLED GOOSE GAME Has a Release Date and a Price

Happy Judgement Day! Have a New TERMINATOR: DARK FATE Trailer

THE LAUNDROMAT Trailer

Sasha Baron Cohen is THE SPY

JOKER - Final Trailer

New LUCY IN THE SKY Trailer

STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER D23 Special Look Reel

STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER Poster Revealed

THE MANDALORIAN Trailer

MS. MARVEL Series in the Works for Disney+

New IMAX Trailer for AD ASTRA

BOMBSHELL Teaser

DOC JUSTICE AND THE J-TEAM Are…

Spider-Man to Leave the MCU: Sony/Disney Deal Done

THE MATRIX 4: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss & Lana Wachowski to Return

MONDO: 'New METAL GEAR SOLID Enamel Pins!'

The New JAMES BOND Movie Is Titled…

ANTLERS Teaser Trailer

Sony Buys Insomniac Games

Marvel Teases DOC JUSTICE AND THE J-TEAM

Stephen Amell Joins Starz’s Pro-Wrestling-themed Drama, HEELS

’New Indie World Showcase Reveals Next Slate of Top Indie Games Coming to Nintendo Switch’

Full Trailer for AppleTV+’s THE MORNING SHOW

Holy Hell, PROMARE Looks Amazing

Ewan McGregor Rumored to Headline a STAR WARS: OBI-WAN Series for Disney+

THE DEATH OF DICK LONG: One of the Directors of SWISS ARMY MAN is Back, and He’s Got A Coen Homage

Apple’s THE MORNING SHOW Gets a Proper Teaser Trailer

There’s a LEGO FRIENDS (Like the TV Show) Set Coming For Some Reason

GAME OF THRONES’ David Benioff and Dan Weiss Sign a $200 Million Deal with Netflix

Edgar Wright’s LAST NIGHT IN SOHO Set for a September 2020 Release

Taika Waititi to Write/Direct Mystery Movie Prior to THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER

THE ADDAMS FAMILY Heads To Jersey In This New Trailer for the Animated Reboot

Disney Announces Reboots for a Number of Fox Family Franchises to Come to Disney+

AMERICAN CRIME STORY to Take On The Monica Lewinsky Scandal

Disney Announces Plans to Bundle Hulu, ESPN+ and Disney+ for Just $13

Apparently, Things Aren’t So Awful at Rockstar Anymore

Andy Serkis Signed to Direct VENOM 2

Amazon Looking to Bring an EVENT HORIZON Series to Life

Mindhunter: Season 2 Trailer

A Bunch of Awesome Movie Trailers What I Saw Last Week

#FastFoodArmsRace: Oscar Mayer Announces 'Ice Dog Sandwich' To Take On Mustard Ice Cream

#FastFoodArmsRace: French’s Mustard Ice Cream

MAFEX Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse MILES MORALES Figure Officially Announced. OR! Marty Pre-Ordered A Japanese Toy

Shock and Awe: ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP is Real, and Looks Spectacular

WILL SMITH Battles WILL SMITH Some More In This New GEMINI MAN Trailer

THE HITCHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY Comes To TV Courtesy of Hulu

Taika Waititi IS Hitler IN The First Teaser for JOJO RABBIT

LEGO Unveils Beautiful TREEHOUSE Set, Available Now

Taika Waititi to Direct THOR 4

Rob Liefeld to Write/Illustrate GI JOE: SNAKE EYES Series for IDW

Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach to Write The BARBIE Movie. Really. Not Kidding.

LA LA LAND Director Looking to Re-Team with Emma Stone for BABYLON

THE KING’S MAN Teaser Trailer

PAPER GIRLS Coming to Amazon Prime Video

CUPHEAD is Coming To Netflix as an Animated Series

Disney’s MULAN - First Live-Action Teaser

Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019): A Review

Amazon’s LORD OF THE RINGS Series Has Its First Director: JA Bayona

KNIVES OUT Trailer

JUMANJI - THE NEXT LEVEL Trailer

THE SANDMAN Comes to TV via an Unexpected, Expensive Warner Bros, DC Entertainment, Netflix Team-Up

FAST & FURIOUS PRESENTS: HOBBS & SHAW - Final Trailer

The Appleseed Cast - The Fleeting Light of Impermanence

Millie Bobby Brown to Star as Sherlock Holmes’ Sister ENOLA HOLMES

'Jony Ive to Form Independent Design Company With Apple as Client'

Paul Rudd Eyed to Join New GHOSTBUSTERS Film

FINAL FANTASY TV Series in Development

CHARLIE’S ANGELS (2019) Trailer

Joe Hill to Launch New Line of Horror Comics for DC

Marvel to License Characters for One Act Plays for High Schools

Reebok to Release TOY STORY-Themed Sneakers

Netflix Gets in the George Clooney Business with GOOD MORNING, MIDNIGHT

Taika Waititi to Work on FLASH GORDON Animated Film

Remember MySpace? Turns Out THEY Were Scummy Too

GE to Close a Gas Plant, Make It a Solar Battery Site

More Photos of the MAFEX Michael Jordan Figure

MAFEX HUSH Batman Might Be The Best Batman Action Figure Ever?

A Michael B. Jordan-Led THE MATRIX Is Coming?

THE CRAFT Reboot Finds Its Lead

Medicom to Bring a MAFEX Michael Jordan Figure to Shelves in 2020

DC Comics Announces Massive 2020/2021 Slate of Middle Grade/Young Adult Graphic Novels:

TRANSPARENT’s Jill Soloway to Write/Direct RED SONJA

DC Comics Consolidating Imprints, Killing Off Vertigo

Final Trailer for STRANGER THINGS 3

Blumhouse Moving Forward With HALLOWEEN Sequel

#FastFoodArmsRace: KFC Gives Up, Delivers Us a Cheetos Sandwich

First Trailer for THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON

Eric Andre Goes Full Jackass with BAD TRIP

Falcon and Crossbones Get Into Some GTA-Sh-t’ in POINT BLANK

First Trailer for TROLLS WORLD TOUR

Noelle Stevenson To Release Graphic Novel Memoir THE FIRE NEVER GOES OUT

Thom Yorke Announces New Solo Album ANIMA, Which is Also a Netflix Short Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

JJ Abrams (And Son) To Write a new SPIDER-MAN Series

NoHo Hank to Battle BILL & TED

Netflix Lands Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Adaptation of TICK, TICK…BOOM!

The KINGSMAN Prequel is Now…THE KING’S MAN

Pixar’s Next Big Movie: SOUL

First Look at New Cartoon Network Series INFINITY TRAIN

Marvel Studios To Return to Hall H for SDCC 2019

FX’s Adaptation of Y: THE LAST MAN Has a Showrunner Again

DR. MARIO Mobile to Hit On July 10th

WarnerMedia Closing in on a $500 Million Deal for Bad Robot

Lucasfilm Appoints Bad Robot’s MICHELLE REJWAN as SVP of Live Action Production & Development

GLOW Season 3 Trailer

SDCC Exclusive GHOSTBUSTERS-Themed OPTIMUS PRIME Hitting This Summer

First Look at Netflix’s International Drama, CRIMINAL

A HUNGER GAMES Prequel Novel is Coming…And So Is a Movie, Of Course

Apple Has Oscar Related Ambitions Now

JK Simmons is the New Big Bad in the Full Trailer for VERONICA MARS Season 4

I’m SUPER Into this Nike x STRANGER THINGS Collaboration

The FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S Movie Is Here. Wait a Second. It’s THE BANANA SPLITS?

GKIDS Announces US Rights to PROMARE, From the GURREN LAGGAN Team

BLACK CHRISTMAS Getting Remade In Time for This Christmas

First Look at the New LOONEY TUNES Series with Dynamite Dance’

The DARIA Universe Returns as MTV Announces JODIE

DC Comics Relaunching the LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES with Brian Michael Bendis

Entertainment Weekly Gets a First Look at Tom King’s BATMAN/CATWOMAN

First Trailer for DOCTOR SLEEP, A Continuation of THE SHINING

First Looks at Dreamworks’ New Netflix Series - FAST & FURIOUS and KIPO AND THE AGE OF WONDERBEASTS

Sony Pictures Animation’s Upcoming Slate Sounds Amazing

PENNYWORTH Trailer: If You Wanted Sexy Alfred, Here You Go

THE AMAZING JOHNATHAN DOCUMENTARY Trailer: What Is Real, Anyway?

Konami Announces The TURBOGRAFX-16 MINI

Highlights from Nintendo’s E3 2019 Presentation

LEGO Unveils a MASSIVE New Jurassic Park Set

The Baffling Reveal of the New AVENGERS Video Game

They Finally Sold Me on The FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE

DUNE is Getting a Streaming TV Series Too

FROZEN 2 Trailer: It’s Just a Straight Up Fantasy Superhero Movie Now

Bo Burnham to Write Songs for SESAME STREET Movie

Robin Williams Outtakes From ALADDIN

FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE Apparently, Finally Coming on March 3rd, 2020, Or So They Say

New CYBERPUNK 2077 Trailer Looks Dope, Has Keanu Reeves

THE GOOD PLACE To End With Season 4

Fox Almost Did an X-MEN vs. FANTASTIC FOUR Civil War Movie

JOHN CENA Confirmed for FAST & FURIOUS 9

UNCHARTED Movie Adaptation REALLY Moving Forward This Time, Set For 2020 Release

Google Shares More STADIA Details, Yet I Wonder Why Stadia?’

'Amblin Art Show by Matt Ferguson and Flory at Bottleneck in NY'

Loads of New Pokemon Shield and Pokemon Sword Details Revealed in Nintendo Direct

Mattel Announces SDCC 2019 Exclusive SLIM JIM “Macho Man

SI.com:

Even in 2019, it is still time to snap into a Slim Jim.

The legend of the “Macho Man" Randy Savage continues. Mattel is celebrating Savage’s time as a spokesperson for the Slim Jim brand and their memorable television commercials with a new action figure.

This is amazing.

AD ASTRA Trailer: Brad Pitt in SPAAAAAACCCCCEEE

Tig Notaro Has Her Own Celebrity Talk Show, With Funny or Die’s UNDER A ROCK

JURASSIC PARK Animated Series Coming to Netflix Next Year

Now We’re Getting a MAGIC 8 BALL Movie

We’re Getting a DJANGO / ZORRO Movie, I Guess?

FOR ALL MANKIND Trailer: First Look at This Apple TV+ Series

Godzilla and The Alamo Drafthouse Say: “Don’t Talk or Text During the Movie"

www.youtube.com/watch

Holy shit, this is fantastic.

Another reason why I love the customized pre-shows for every movie at the Alamo Drafthouse.

The Russo Brothers & Netflix to Team Up on a MAGIC: THE GATHERING Animated Series

Matt Damon and Christian Bale Are In For The Race of a Lifetime in FORD VS. FERRARI

I Can’t Believe This Is Real: THE DARK CRYSTAL: AGE OF RESISTANCE Teaser

Pixar’s ONWARD Feels Like ZOOTOPIA, But For Fantasy Worlds

RAMBO: LAST BLOOD Teaser Trailer

Elisabeth Moss, Melissa McCarthy and Tiffany Haddish Turn Up The Heat in First Trailer for THE KITCHEN

I am in Austin, Texas!

Hey folks!

Your dear pal Marty is in Austin, TX this week, to celebrate his wedding anniversary.

In turn, updates here will be minimal.

For random newsbits through the week, check Twitter. For what will most likely be a lot of food photos, head to Instagram.

Back on Monday, June 3rd.

BETWEEN TWO FERNS: THE MOVIE to Hit Netflix on September 20th

TheWrap:

Per the official logline, in the movie version, “Zach Galifianakis dreamed of becoming a star. But when Will Ferrell discovered his public access TV show Between Two Ferns’ and uploaded it to Funny Or Die, Zach became a viral laughing stock. Now Zach and his crew are taking a road trip to complete a series of high-profile celebrity interviews and restore his reputation. Directed by Scott Aukerman, Between Two Ferns: The Movie’ is a laugh-out-loud comedy that gives new insight into the curmudgeonly, beloved outsider Zach Galifianakis has created over the years.“

I’m in.

A STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC Script Is in the Works

Buzzfeed News:

Can’t say I expected this today. I know that this is the movie everyone swears the Game of Thrones guys are doing, but I would figure that they’re writing that themselves?

First STAR TREK: PICARD Teaser is About Wine, Mostly

www.youtube.com/watch

Still not going to subscribe to you, CBS All Access.

The Lonely Island Return With…An Album About Baseball?

Stereogum:

The concept behind this whole ridiculous project is pretty inspired. In the late ’80s, the monster home-run hitters Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire conquered the baseball world, leading the Oakland A’s to a World Series victory in 1989 and generally capturing the public imagination. They were both on tons of steroids, of course, and that’s now their main legacy. But all three members of the Lonely Island come from the Bay Area, so they remember what it was like to look at these sketchy guys as childhood idols. And with The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience, which the Lonely Island are calling a “visual poem,“ they’ve imagined what would’ve happened of Canseco and McGwire, at the height of their fame, had recorded a rap album.

I haven’t watched or listened to this yet, but since its from The Lonely Island, I’ll give it a shot.

TERMINATOR: DARK FATE Teaser Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

This looks…not bad?

The new Terminator model looks wild, Linda Hamilton looks ready to wreck things, and I’m excited to see Mackenzie Davis get a big spotlight like this.

Final Trailer for TOY STORY 4

www.youtube.com/watch

I forgot to post this the other day.

I still feel like this is a situation where either Pixar is keeping things quiet, or the story of the movie is a bit more slight than expected.

The Director of THE BABADOOK is Back with THE NIGHTINGALE

youtu.be/YuP8g_GQI…

This looks brutal.

Playdate, an Awesome Little Handheld From Panic Software

The Verge:

I’m already in love. Check out this cool aspect of the device:

Also of note - synth kings Teenage Engineering are behind the hardware.

I’m now going to be obsessed with this little toy for a while.

The Lonely Island are Dropping SOMETHING on Netflix at Midnight

twitter.com/thelonely…

I don’t know what a “Visual Poem" is, but I can’t wait to see what this is.

Christopher Nolan’s Next Movie is TENET

Variety:

ClÁ©mence PoÁ©sy, Dimple Kapadia, Michael Caine are also joining the cast that includes John David Washington, Elizabeth Debicki, and Robert Pattinson.

“Tenet,“ which is being filmed on location across seven countries, is an action epic evolving from the world of international espionage.

Michael Caine!

“International espionage", eh? Sounds like we’re finally getting that Chris Nolan spy movie he’s clearly wanted to make for years.

Hits Summer 2020.

What Should We Expect From AT&T Now That They Own Time Warner? Ads! Ads Everywhere!

Fortune:

Such targeting has caused privacy headaches for Yahoo, Google, and Facebook, of course. That’s why AT&T requires that customers give permission for use of their data; like those other companies, it anonymizes that data and groups it into audiences—for example, consumers likely to be shopping for a pickup truck—rather than targeting specific individuals. Regardless of how you see a directed car ad, say, AT&T can then use geolocation data from your phone to see if you went to a dealership and possibly use data from the automaker to see if you signed up for a test-drive—and then tell the automaker, “Here’s the specific ROI on that advertising,“ says Lesser. AT&T claims marketers are paying four times the usual rate for that kind of advertising.

This is a really interesting profile, but this chunk just gives me the heebie-jeebies.

And I work in Online Advertising!

#FastFoodArmsRace: Coca Cola is Resurrecting NEW COKE for STRANGER THINGS 3

CNN:

The company is bringing back a limited number of New Coke cans in honor of the upcoming third season of “Stranger Things,” in which the product is featured.

What a world we live in.

New Trailer for ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD

www.youtube.com/watch

The new Tarantino film finally premiered yesterday at the Cannes Film Festival, and as great as this trailer looks, apparently the final film is even better.

It’s going to be a good Summer of moviegoing.

Jason Mantzoukas Chats About Improv

youtu.be/0VWg3ldzb…

Jason Mantzoukas is, in my opinion, one of the funniest humans alive. Very cool to see him discussing his craft.

First Trailer for the DOWNTON ABBEY Movie

youtu.be/fMkiSqBra…

Which one of these folks is Downtown Abby?

A New International Trailer for STUBER

youtu.be/rtYEiBR1s…

Another awesome trailer for a movie with a terrible name.

I look forward to this one!

Facebook Fuckup of the Week: They’ve Been Giving Cellphone Companies Your Data

The Intercept:

FUCK YOU ZUCKERBERG

Uniqlo Reveals Line of PokÁ©mon T-Shirts

IGN:

Click the link to check out the full line. I especially love the Ditto tee.

THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER Has a Director

Deadline:

Not familiar with her work, but I’m glad to see another prominent female director in the Marvel Studios mix.

Vanity Fair Goes Behind the Scenes for STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER

Vanity Fair:

Continuing the series seen (to my recollection) since The Phantom Menace, Lev Grossman goes behind the scenes of the final Skywalker Saga film, with beautiful photographs to peruse.

Added to my Instapaper for later reading today.

Fallout From the Sony/Microsoft Deal: Turns Out the PlayStation Team Had No Idea This Was Coming

Bloomberg:

So the PlayStation 5 Xbox Two is not happening, then?

Sony Has Taken Making Video Game Movies Work Into Their Own Hands

The Hollywood Reporter:

Works for me! Better this than all the start/stop we’ve seen with the Uncharted movie, which really should’ve been a layup of a movie to make.

If I may, let’s go ahead and make the new God of War game a movie.

Unsurprisingly, The Disney Parks App Will Be a Key Part of STAR WARS: GALAXY’S EDGE Too

Disney Parks Blog:

Can’t say this is shocking. It’s pretty cool, if I’m honest!

This Is Not a Joke: The Lonely Island’s Akiva Schaffer to Direct CHIP ’N DALE RESCUE RANGERS Movie

The Hollywood Reporter:

Akiva Schaffer, one-third of Lonely Island along with Andy Samberg and Jorma Taccone, has closed a deal to helm the studio’s live-action/CG hybrid take on Rescue Rangers, featuring the classic chipmunk duo.

What a strange universe we live in.

THE BATMAN Will Run Back BATMAN RETURNS Villains Wise, Apparently

Collider:

I’m game for Penguin, but it feels like we just had Anne Hathaway’s Catwoman, 7 years ago or not.

Surprise! Here’s a First Look at WESTWORLD Season 3 (Or, WESTWORLD III)!

www.youtube.com/watch

Hits in 2020.

Westworld, BITCH!

First Full Teaser for HBO’s HIS DARK MATERIALS

www.youtube.com/watch

Can this be the next Game of Thrones?

Robert Pattison to Star as THE BATMAN. Unless He’s Not.

Variety:

While sources say it’s not yet a done deal, Pattinson is the top choice and it’s expected to close shortly. Warner Bros. had no comment.

This is a bit of news which has been received — just like we saw with Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton — with considerable handwringing across social media.

I think he’s a great choice, an actor (who, like his Harry Potter co-star Daniel Radcliffe) has built on his original fame for a teen franchise and used it to get really unique, great, thought provoking roles.

Chris Nolan’s already put him as the lead of his next film, so it’s clear that Pattison is on his way to being a top st…

Wait a minute. What’s THIS?!

Deadline:

Interesting…

Hoult could be a good choice too. But he’s going to have 2 bad X-Men films locked to him after this. That’s gotta be rough.

Sony and Microsoft To Team Up on Cloud Computing

Microsoft:

Under the memorandum of understanding signed by the parties, the two companies will explore joint development of future cloud solutions in Microsoft Azure to support their respective game and content-streaming services. In addition, the two companies will explore the use of current Microsoft Azure datacenter-based solutions for Sony’s game and content-streaming services. By working together, the companies aim to deliver more enhanced entertainment experiences for their worldwide customers. These efforts will also include building better development platforms for the content creator community.

Wonder what this means for the next generation Xbox and PlayStation, respectively…

The SAW Franchise is Getting a Reboot Thanks To Producer/Star…uh, CHRIS ROCK?!

TheWrap:

Rock will star in the project that he is also executive producing. The film will be produced by longtime “Saw" producers Mark Burg and Oren Koules. Darren Lynn Bousman, who helmed three of the most successful films in the “Saw" franchise, will direct this reimagining. The screenplay is based on a story by Rock and written by Pete Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg. Daniel Heffner and the original creators of “Saw,“ James Wan and Leigh Whannell, will also executive produce.

Never would’ve pictured this in a million years.

Steam Link Now Available for iOS

TechCrunch:

Then Valve submitted it to the iOS App Store and… Apple rejected it. At the time, Valve said that Apple pinned the rejection on “business conflicts".

A year later, it seems said conflicts have finally been resolved. Steam Link for iOS just hit the App Store.

I wonder what made them finally work it out.

'Super Mario Maker 2 Nintendo Direct Recap'

USGamer:

Looks like another winner for the Nintendo Switch!

Petition: Remake GAME OF THRONES Season 8

Change.org:

This series deserves a final season that makes sense.

Subvert my expectations and make it happen, HBO!

Jesus Christ, this is absolutely cringeworthy.

Here’s something crazy about creative projects. Those who make it, make it for themselves at a point.

It’s not necessarily about pleasing you.

Sure, in a world of art-as-commerce, which, let’s be honest, Game of Thrones is a strong part of, they want you to enjoy and pay for the product.

But never forget - the creation is theirs to do with as they wish.

Stop being so entitled, nerds. You’re embarrassing the rest of us.

James Gunn Opens Up About His Firing And Rehiring for GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3

Deadline:

Recommended read. This is the first time James Gunn has opened up about all of this, and it really gets into the detail about how he navigated the experience.

Surprise! BLACK MIRROR Season 5 set for June 5th Debut

www.youtube.com/watch

Yes, that is Miley Cyrus.

HBO to Air GAME OF THRONES: THE LAST WATCH Next Weekend

www.youtube.com/watch

Say what you will about the final season, but I bet this behind the scenes look will be fascinating.

A Massive, Official STRANGER THINGS Lego Set Has Been Revealed

The Brothers Brick:

This is so unbelievably cool.

Well, Disney Now Completely Owns HULU

TheWrap:

The two companies have entered into a “put/call" agreement regarding NBCUniversal’s 33% stake in the streaming service.

As early as January 2024, Comcast can require Disney to buy NBCUniversal’s interest in Hulu and Disney can require NBCUniversal to sell that interest to Disney for its fair market value at that future time.

I hope this doesn’t ruin my use of Hulu as “the streaming service where I watch currently airing shows, but without commercials and on a slight delay.“

Teaser Trailer for MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL

www.youtube.com/watch

I never saw the first one. Worth the time?

I’m just distracted by how gaunt Jolie looks with the makeup here.

Want To Watch a 2-Hour Making Of for GOD OF WAR?

www.youtube.com/watch

It’s called Raising Kratos. Enjoy.

Adult Swim Orders New Genndy Tartakovsky Series PRIMAL

Deadline:

Primal features a caveman at the dawn of evolution. A dinosaur on the brink of extinction. Bonded by tragedy, this unlikely friendship becomes the only hope of survival in a violent, primordial world.

With Tartakovsky’s track record, Primal is a can’t miss.

EDIT: We’ve got a trailer now, too.

www.youtube.com/watch

HONEY I SHRUNK THE KIDS Legacy Sequel SHRUNK in the Works for Disney+

/Film:

The plan is for the movie to be set about three decades after the 1989 original, with Gad set to play the grown-up version of scientist and inventor Wayne Szalinski’s son, Adam Szalinski, who was played by twins Daniel and Joshua Shalikar in the 1992 sequel Honey, I Blew Up The Kid. The new movie, which will be titled Shrunk, will be a reboot of the original film, but positioned as a “legecyequel,“ which means it will exist in the same world and continue the overall storyline. And yes, Adam Szalinski accidentally shrinks his kids, which kickstarts the story of the film.

Disney sure loves them some Josh Gad.

MARK WAHLBERG and JASON ISSACS Join SCOOB, as the Voice Cast Gets Stranger and Stranger

Deadline:

Wahlberg will play the Blue Falcon, a superhero from the Hanna-Barbera canon who teamed up with Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Gang to fight against one of his arch-enemies, Mr. Hyde. Blue Falcon’s right hand was Dynomutt who in the feature animated pic is being voiced by comedian Ken Jeong.

Isaacs will portray twirling mustache villain, Dick Dastardly, who is reported to be the main baddie of Scoob. Dick is a duplicitous car racer and pilot whose vehicles are known to carry various bombs and traps. He too has a right-hand dog in scruffy giggler Muttley.

Is this going to be the goddamned Avengers: Endgame of the Hanna Barbera Universe?

Marvel Comics #1000 to Hit in August

The New York Times:

Each page of the comic will correlate to one year in Marvel history. Along the way, readers will see many of the marquee characters from the mighty Marvel universe like Captain America, Thor and Iron Man, and some less familiar ones, like Blue Marvel, Night Thrasher and the Three X’s.

Yes, this is what all those teasers this week were about.

I’ll give it a read, for sure.

Looks Like Michael Rooker will Re-Team with James Gunn for THE SUICIDE SQUAD

The Wrap:

I’m for it. Rooker surprised all of us with his performance as Yondu, and he’s sort of a James Gunn good luck charm, a’la John Ratzenberger for a Pixar film, or Michael Caine for Christopher Nolan movies. Let’s make it happen!

Sony Holds A Second STATE OF PLAY Event, With Some Cool Reveals

Yesterday, Sony held their second State of Play event, basically their version of a Nintendo Direct. You can watch it below:

www.youtube.com/watch

It was pretty darn cool - there’s a multiplayer Predator game coming, there’s this really cool game called Away in the works, the MediEvil remake is shaping up, but there’s one bit people are losing their shit about…

Yep, the Final Fantasy VII Remake isn’t dead.

www.youtube.com/watch

Looks like it’s an action RPG now, and it’s still episodic. But if you want to know more, I guess you gotta wait for E3.

i still don’t think it is ever coming out

Adult Swim to Expand the HARVEY BIRDMAN Universe with BIRDGIRL

Variety:

Adult Swim has given a series order to “Birdgirl,“ a spinoff of “Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law" with Paget Brewster set to lend her voice to the title character. Brewster previously voiced Birdgirl in the original series as well as the recent special “Harvey Birdman, Attorney General,“ which aired on Adult Swim in October.

In the new series, after being named CEO of the world’s largest and most non-sensical corporation, Sebben & Sebben, Judy Ken Sebben (aka Birdgirl) has to find a way to maintain her work/superhero life balance. Through the halls of the company headquarters she assembles her Birdteam. By day, they try to drag the company into this century. By mid-afternoon, they usually end up having to break a lot of things to stop something bad that one of them may have helped cause.

Very excited for this.

The Horror Continues — IT: CHAPTER TWO Teaser Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

I love that they decided to let a scene play out.

The casting of the adult cast is out of this world. I can’t wait!

HBO’s WATCHMEN: First Teaser Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

So, I guess this is a sequel, then?

John Wick Meets Chess In His First Video Game: JOHN WICK HEX

www.youtube.com/watch

I’m getting Hitman: Go vibes. Very into this.

How Would You Feel About a Female-Led CLIFFHANGER Reboot?

Deadline:

In a zeitgeisty twist, the reimagined, big-canvas package will have a female lead — casting is underway — and a female director in the shape of Ana Lily Amirpour (A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night). Aquaman star Jason Momoa is talks for a key cameo.

Ana Lily Amirpour is a very interesting directorial choice.

I’m guessing Momoa would appear as the person who dies at the top of the film?

There Was Almost a METROID Cartoon…Where Samus Was a Man

Kotaku:

Highly recommend you click through to see the pitch art for the other shows, especially the Castlevania take.

Richard Madden Joining the Cast of THE ETERNALS

The Wrap:

Another good get for an increasingly intriguing cast.

LEGION Season 3 Trailer - A First Look at the End

youtu.be/D8Vl1fuGn…

This reminds me, I need to watch Season 2, now that it’s on Hulu.

Disney Makes All Sorts of Release Date Moves (AVATAR Sequels Delayed, New STAR WARS Movies Dated)

Variety:

As part of the great release date shake-up, Disney announced that three new untitled Star Wars films will start hitting theaters in Dec. 16 2022. There will be two other follow-ups during the Christmas corridor in 2024 and 2026. Disney is poised to dominate around Christmas for the foreseeable future. The studio is alternating between “Avatar" and “Star Wars" films every year through 2027 starting in 2021. In 2020, Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story" adaptation" will bow on Dec. 18, while “Cruella" will launch Dec. 23 ahead of the long holiday weekend.

Other release date changes of note:

Crazy stuff.

Is there actually going to be anyone interested in the four Avatar sequels by the time they release?

Awesome Marvel Comics Gashapon Coming From Bandai/TOUMA

Grey Matter Art Releases Another Amazing SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE Print

Inside The Rock Poster Frame:

I love how this movie has made so many great artists bring their A-Game to the print world.

The print releases Thursday, May 9th at 1PM EDT at greymatterart.com.

The HELLRAISER Reboot You Never Asked for Is On Its Way

Variety:

I wondered why I was so cynical about this Hellraiser reboot, versus say, the Candyman reboot being overseen by Jordan Peele.

And I realized the difference.

With Peele’s version of Candyman, it’s coming from someone who has something to say - he saw something in the original material which he thought needed a brighter light shined on it (the slave-based history of the character) - and it will take the original work and shine it through that prism.

I have literally no clue what David S. Goyer will bring to this project which wasn’t already covered in the 10 existing films. Prove me wrong, Davey. Prove me wrong.

Hey, The Comic Industry Did WELL Last Year!

Comichron:

That’s awesome news. Maybe that industry isn’t going to die just yet. Maybe.

Another Sony State of Play Drops on Thursday

PlayStation.Blog:

PlayStation Worldwide Studios will be showing off an extended look at MediEvil, as well as a first look at a new title. And we’ll have other updates and announcements from upcoming PS4 games.

Let the hype and speculation begin.

SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME Trailer #2 - This One Has AVENGERS: ENDGAME Spoilers

www.youtube.com/watch

You do NOT ghost Nick Fury.

Bloomberg Has a Lot of Insight on the next iOS and macOS Updates

Bloomberg.com:

The Worldwide Developers Conference, or WWDC, starts June 3. The company will reveal updates to the operating systems that run the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. Highlights include upgrades to core iPhone apps such as Maps, Reminders and Messages; new apps for the Apple Watch that make it more independent from the iPhone, and enhancements to the health tracking capabilities of Apple devices, according to people familiar with the plans.

Exciting stuff — they’re really going all out here.

Does make one wonder…how much does all of this growth hurt third-party developers?

Pat Gleason Jumps from DC to Marvel, Gives Us a Hint at the Future of the Marvel Comics Universe

Marvel Press Release:

One of the most versatile creators in the comic industry, Gleason has lent his talent to numerous DC, Marvel, and Image properties over the years, helping to produce multiple New York Times best-selling books including Batman And Robin, Aquaman, Green Lantern Corps, JLA, and Welcome To The Working Week with Patton Oswalt.

Gleason, known for his striking dynamic art style, will be joining the incredible family of Spider-Man artists on today’s titles to bring the Marvel Universe to life, starting with a short story in Amazing Spider-Man #25 in July!

I’m excited about this as I loved Gleason’s work on Batman And Robin and most recently his run on Young Justice, but you had to know Marvel had to get all sneaky and make his promo image all sorts of Easter Egg filled.

Similarly to the Marvel Now! And All-New Marvel Now! announcement images, this look at a bunch of characters from the Marvel U has some hints as to where things are going.

I spot:

What do you see?

Introducing...the blast-o-rama. newsletter

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WILLOW To Receive a Sequel Series on Disney+

Variety:

The original fantasy film came from a George Lucas story and was produced by Lucasfilm, so a Disney+ series adaptation would seem like a natural fit, given how many other Lucasfilm projects are in the works for the streaming platform.

And now I know why the film just now received a release on iTunes.

Gear Up, Marshmellows: Teaser Trailer for VERONICA MARS Return on Hulu

youtu.be/wuhCFAtFE…

Already looks better than the movie, IMO.

A Brand New EARTHWORM JIM Game is Coming from the Original Dev Team

Variety:

There will be a 20-minute live interactive simulcast streaming event on May 4 at noon PT during the team’s first “Earthworm Jim" design meeting. During that meeting, the team will discuss their new vision of the game firsthand as well as showing off original art pieces. Some of that art will be signed and given away, as well as 50 new posters, to livestream viewers.

They had me until “Intellivision Amico".

Trailer 2 for Amazon Studios’ LATE NIGHT

www.youtube.com/watch

Looks like a fun movie for a rainy Sunday afternoon at a movie theater!

MeUndies Launches STAR WARS Themed Disco Collection

MeUndies:

These sure are tempting!

F. Gary Gray to Helm SAINTS ROW Movie Adaptation

Deadline:

When you think about it, there’s kind of a straight line from The Fate of the Furious to Saints Row, so this should be a perfect fit.

Marvel Brings Live-Action GHOST RIDER and HELSTROM Series to Hulu in 2020

Marvel.com:

“Marvel’s Ghost-Rider” and “Marvel’s Helstrom” make their way to Hulu in 2020, as Marvel Television and Hulu expand their partnership with the addition of these two new live-action series based on fear properties.

Quite the Marvel lineup is forming over at Hulu — the continuation of Runaways, plus the announced animated series including MODOK — pretty cool, and definitely going to make people have a subscription alongside their Disney+ login.

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

What in the goddamned world

Lord & Miller Sign Massive Overall TV Deal with Sony Pictures Television

The Wrap:

The Academy Award-winning and Emmy-nominated writing, directing and producing team will create a slate of both live-action and animated series under their Lord Miller Productions banner — including a suite of new TV series based on Sony’s Marvel Universe, produced in partnership with Amy Pascal.

Awesome news. These guys are 100% worth it.

#FastFoodArmsRace: The Impossible Whopper to Get Nationwide Release

CNN:

I will GLADLY try one. Sounds exciting.

Samsung is Bringing a Vertical TV to the Market

The Verge:

The Verge and I clearly disagree on what a “smarter idea" means.

EDIT: Wait a minute — this piece of shit is $16,000? Fuck off so goddamned hard, Samsung.

I’m at Awesome Con This Weekend!

Hey folks!

I, your gentle host, will be a guest at Awesome Con all weekend as a part of Super Art Fight (The Greatest Live Art Competition in the Known Universe).

In turn, this site will be quiet for the next few days, but feel free to head to my Twitter - @blast0rama - for my regularly scheduled links shared.

Thanks, and see you back here on Monday!

System of a Down’s Serj Tankian and Bear McCreary Cover Blue Oyster Cult for GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS

www.youtube.com/watch

This rules.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead to Star as an Assassin in KATE for Netflix

Variety:

“The Huntsman: Winter’s War" director Cedric Nicolas-Troyan is helming from a script by Umair Aleem.

The story revolves around a female assassin, who, after being poisoned and given less than 24 hours to live, must go on a manhunt through the streets of Tokyo to take vengeance on her murderer before she dies.

It’s Crank but with a lady, I guess?

Avengers: Endgame (2019): A Review

The following review is 100% Spoiler-Free.

22 films.

11 years.

From Iron Man to Captain Marvel, it all came down to this.

And they did it. Deliriously wonderful, absolutely epic, the crazy bastards did it.

Avengers: Endgame is in theaters now.

New Images and Details for SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME

Entertainment Weekly:

Fury also connects Peter with a new ally: Quentin Beck, a.k.a. Mysterio, a powerful magician played by Jake Gyllenhaal. “If Tony Stark was sort of the mentor in the previous films, we thought it would be interesting to play Mysterio as almost like the cool uncle,“ Watts says.

Interesting angle for Mysterio. Definitely adds to my “that’s not really Fury" theory though.

The DEADWOOD Trailer Is Here!

youtu.be/s0WrXmhvX…

HELL THE FUCK YEAH

Bottleneck Gallery has the Coolest Damn ALIEN Poster for ALIEN DAY, Tomorrow!

Bottleneck Gallery:

Alien Day is a yearly celebration of Ridley Scott’s classic sci-fi space horror film, Alien. Tom’s print is a wonderful, pulp-inspired poster featuring some of the horrors that the Nostromo space ship’s crew faces in the film. Despite the brighter color palette, Tom has still successfully conveyed how truly scary and intricate the movie’s monsters are.

I love when people do designs like this - matching a retro, fun aesthetic to something close…but definitely not in that wheelhouse.

Well done, Tom Walker. Well done.

The Extended Edition of THE HATEFUL EIGHT is Now On Netflix…As a Mini-Series

/Film:

For some baffling reason, rather than provide this cut as a full movie, Netflix has broken it up into a mini-series with four episodes. The big question is: why?

I don’t hate this, personally.

One of the things I liked so much about the Lord of the Rings Extended Cuts was that the movies were split into two discs, and when I’d rewatch it, I’d routinely split the discs up, as if they were individual chapters to be savored..

Tamashii Nations Unveils 3 New SPIDER-MAN Figures

The Toyark:

At another time in my life, I’d spend $180 on Spider-Man figures without hesitation.

They’re wonderful pieces, but I just can’t do it.

BOND 25 Cast and First Details Revealed

ComingSoon:

Confirmed cast members returning for the film include Daniel Craig as James Bond 007, Ralph Fiennes as M, Lea Seydoux (Spectre), Naomie Harris as Moneypenny, Ben Whishaw as Q, with Rory Kinear as Tanner and Jeffrey Wright as Felix Leiter.

New cast members confirmed for the film include Dali Benssalah, Billy Magnussen, Ana De Arma, David Dencik, Lashana Lynch, and Rami Malek.

Cary Fukunaga is directing from a script by Neil Purvis & Robert Wade and Scott Burns and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

Hits theaters April 2020.

I still think Spectre, as not great as it was, should’ve been the farewell to Craig.

MARIO KART TOUR Opens Up Mobile Beta Application

The application is up now, and the Beta runs May 22nd-June 4th, 2019.

Android users only — sign up here.

MEN IN BLACK: INTERNATIONAL - Trailer #2

www.youtube.com/watch

Looks fun!

I still really like Emma Thompson as new Zed.

PERFECT Looks Like a Wild Sci-Fi Movie

'Hillary Clinton: Mueller Documented a Serious Crime Against All Americans. Here’s How to Respond.'

The Washington Post:

The debate about how to respond to Russia’s “sweeping and systemic" attack — and how to hold President Trump accountable for obstructing the investigation and possibly breaking the law — has been reduced to a false choice: immediate impeachment or nothing. History suggests there’s a better way to think about the choices ahead.

Obviously, this is personal for me, and some may say that I’m not the right messenger. But my perspective is not just that of a former candidate and target of the Russian plot. I am also a former senator and secretary of state who served during much of Vladi­mir Putin’s ascent, sat across the table from him and knows firsthand that he seeks to weaken our country.

I am also someone who, by a strange twist of fate, was a young staff attorney on the House Judiciary Committee’s Watergate impeachment inquiry in 1974, as well as first lady during the impeachment process that began in 1998. And I was a senator for New York after 9/11, when Congress had to respond to an attack on our country. Each of these experiences offers important lessons for how we should proceed today.

I try to keep this site apolitical.

But this was too surreal to not share.

I’ll let you make your own conclusions from this. I made mine.

'Multiple Fox Films Getting Axed at Disney'

The Hollywood Reporter:

Also poised for curbside pickup, The Hollywood Reporter has learned, is Ted Melfi’s mental-hospital-set dramedy Fruit Loops, which has Woody Harrelson starring (that project is still officially in the Disney fold but likely will be put in turnaround).

This is just an absolute bummer.

Like I said before, there’s another edge to that sword which brought the MCU back together, and it’s going to harm the Hollywood landscape for a bit. Hopefully, another studio can find a way to flourish in the aftermath.

'Facebook Expects Huge Privacy Fine, It Revealed in Its Q1 Earnings'

Variety:

Hey, FTC - now is a GREAT time to raise those fines.

'If You Care About Privacy, Throw Your Amazon Alexa Devices Into the Sea'

Gizmodo:

Shared both for its fantastic title, and because of the nightmarish truth of these devices it shares with us.

(Please don’t let the Kindle Paperwhite be next.)

DC Universe’s SWAMP THING Series Gets a (Literally) Dark Teaser

www.youtube.com/watch

I could barely tell what was happening here, but it sure looked horrifying.

(In a good way.)

Nickelodeon to Host New, Kid-Friendly CG STAR TREK Cartoon

Variety:

The new CG-animated series will follow a group of lawless teens who discover a derelict Starfleet ship and use it to search for adventure, meaning and salvation.

I remember when I was a kid, they used to air the original Star Trek cartoon.

Fun how things come full-circle.

Another Look at Hulu’s CATCH 22 Adaptation

www.youtube.com/watch

Goofy Clooney is best Clooney.

There’s Going to be a Japanese TV Remake of THE FUGITIVE Starring KEN WATANABE!

Variety:

Ken Watanabe (“The Last Samurai,“ “Godzilla,“ “Inception") will star in the title role made famous by David Janssen in the 1963-1967 U.S. TV series and then by Harrison Ford in the 1993 film. Both the show and the movie were hits in Japan.

So, how can we get it over here?

Turns Out Steven Spielberg Doesn’t Hate Netflix After All

The New York Times:

Mr. Spielberg has been publicly silent through all of it. But inside his company, Amblin Entertainment, Mr. Spielberg has expressed frustration with the way his views about streaming have recently been characterized in the news media, according to two people close to him, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to maintain their relationship. Yes, he believes that theater owners, streaming services and traditional studios need to come together to figure out a way to protect what he likes to call the “motion picture theatrical art form.“ If the academy were to come up with a reasonable way to ensure that only films with robust theatrical releases are eligible for Oscars, there is a strong chance he would vote for it, the people said.

Huh. How bout that.

Turns out the guy who loves movies, really loves movies.

James Wan to Produce Adaptation of Stephen King’s SALEM’S LOT

The Wrap:

King wrote the novel in 1975, only his second to be published at the time. It follows a writer who returns to the town of Jerusalem’s Lot, where he lived as a young boy, only to discover everyone he used to know is now a vampire. It was also King’s first book to top the New York Times Bestseller list. In 1979, Tobe Hooper directed a “Salem’s Lot" TV movie, while a miniseries was released in 2004.

Surprised that there hasn’t been a Wan/King team-up before this, given that Wan sort of has his own horror kingdom over at Warner Bros, but this could be great! Love Salem’s Lot, and I’m really loving the modern era of King adaptations…The Dark Tower aside. (And they might even fix that one with the TV show.)

HBO Signs Up for Armando Iannucci’s AVENUE 5, A Space Tourism Comedy

Deadline:

Created, written and executive produced by Iannucci, who directed the pilot, Avenue 5 is space tourism comedy set 40 years in the future when the solar system is everyone’s oyster. With Hugh Laurie as the Captain, nothing can go wrong. Rebecca Front, Lenora Crichlow, Suzy Nakamura and Ethan Phillips co-star.

Love the cast, love the creator, love the concept. Keep em coming, HBO!

HBO Producing MCMILLIONS, a Documentary Series Based on the McDonald’s Monopoly Scam

HBO PR:

If you haven’t read the original story this is based on, here it is. This is going to be a fun ride.

Nickelodeon has Signed Off on a Series of Meme-Inspired SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS Figures

Toy Wizards:

They’re running for about $21 on Amazon right now.

Sadly, Mocking Spongebob (or, moCkiNG SponGeBoB, if you will) is currently sold out.

Apparently, the Tom Holland/Daisy Ridley Movie CHAOS WALKING is a Goddamned Mess

The Playlist, Reporting from the Wall Street Journal:

Currently undergoing reshoots which Tom Holland has been posting about on Instagram, principal photography on the film began August 7, 2017, and was previously set for a March 1, 2019 release date. That date came and went and during a Lionsgate Entertainment earnings call earlier this year, the company confirmed the film would miss that date and would instead come out sometime in 2020.

Well, the Wall Street Journal, in a piece about the financial difficulties and challenges Lionsgate is currently facing, has shed some more light on “Chaos Walking" and all of it is essentially unflattering. WSJ calls the film a “major challenge" for the company and the movie has already cost $100 million to produce. But the real kicker is a film that allegedly “turned out so poorly it was deemed unreleasable by executives who watched initial cuts last year, according to current and former employees.“

Jesus Christ.

A Brief Update on Those New Nintendo Switch Models

Bloomberg:

Oh, so I guess I’m good with my day one model then?

Cool!

DiCaprio. Del Toro. NIGHTMARE ALLEY

Variety:

Del Toro will direct the pic and co-wrote the script with Kim Morgan. The pic is being produced and financed by del Toro and J. Miles Dale with TSG Entertainment, with Fox Searchlight acquiring worldwide distribution rights to the film.

While there is a 1947 Fox pic that starred Tyrone Power, this film will be more based on the William Lindsay Gresham novel of the same name.

Hell yeah!

If you’re like me, and haven’t heard of the novel, here’s a synopsis.

And since Stan is clever and ambitious and not without a useful streak of ruthlessness, soon enough he’s going places. Onstage he plays the mentalist with a cute bimbo (before long his harried wife), then he graduates to full-blown spiritualist, catering to the needs of the rich and gullible in their well-upholstered homes. It looks like the world is Stan’s for the taking. William Lindsay Gresham’s novel is a dark jewel, a classic American tale about the varieties of deception and self-deception and the dream of redemption—a dream that is only a nightmare in disguise.

Sounds wild.

'Twitter’s CEO Jack Dorsey to Hold Closed-Door Meeting With President Trump'

Motherboard:

ugh.

'You Can Now Take Your Amazon Returns to All Kohl’s Stores'

TechCrunch:

It’s Amazon’s world, we just live in it.

Netflix Orders INSIDE JOB, An Adult Animated Series from GRAVITY FALLS Creators

TheWrap:

Per Netflix, “Inside Job" is a workplace comedy set in the shadow government, where every conspiracy theory — from the Illuminati to Reptoids — is true, and one woman struggles to keep the chaos under wraps.

Dope! Love that Hirsch is still working in the world of conspiracy theories and such.

Mondo to Launch 80 YEARS OF BATMAN Gallery Show

Collider:

I’m a little bummed that this won’t be original pieces, but the idea of getting high-quality screen printed versions of classic Batman covers (and even some left-field favorites) is pretty cool.

Did You Know There Was Almost a SUPERMAN FAMILY Cartoon?

Newsarama:

Long-time animation artist/director Vinton Heuck has shared artwork from Superman Family, an animated series he was pitching to Warner Bros. Animation. Heuck, who recently worked on Young Justice and is now working on DC Universe’s Harley Quinn, wanted to bring the Kent family to cartoons with a heaping helping of “crazy Silver Age stories” inspired by comic books of the past.

Goddamnit. This is the sort of thing I’d love to see on DC Universe.

Mondo Releases New AVENGERS: ENDGAME Pins and a Timed CAPTAIN MARVEL Poster

Mondo:

Following that, tomorrow we are hugely excited to release our first poster with the amazing Jen Bartel for CAPTAIN MARVEL! We’ve been eager to collaborate with Jen as we’re mega fans of her work (check out BLACKBIRD, a comic she co-created with Sam Humphries!) and are stoked that the first poster out of the gate is for none other than CAPTAIN MARVEL featuring both an unmasked regular edition and unmasked variant edition. The limited variant and regular version will go on sale tomorrow (4/23) at NOON (CT). The regular version will be available as a Timed Edition through Sunday (4/28) until 11:59PM (CT).

Jen Bartel is such a great choice for a Captain Marvel poster (that’s the variant above), and once again, Matt Taylor kills it with his great pin game.

The Final Trailer for GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS

www.youtube.com/watch

I really think this Summer is going to kick our asses up and down the movie theater aisles.

OXENFREE Developers Night School Games ALMOST Did a STRANGER THINGS Game

The Verge:

After years of turbulence at Telltale from problematic management and constant crunch, the company closed its doors suddenly in September 2018. It left 250 people with no jobs, no severance, and only days left on their health insurance. In-progress projects, like Stranger Things and a second season of The Wolf Among Us, were killed.

The popular Netflix show exists as a video game adaptations with other developers, but Telltale’s game wasn’t the only project that died with the studio. Indie developer Night School Studio had its own unannounced project — a hybrid of puzzle games and storytelling mechanics — set to be published by Telltale. When it shuttered suddenly, Night School nearly suffered layoffs of its own.

Such a shame. I loved Oxenfree, and the Stranger Things world would have been perfect for them.

The Willennium Has Taken a Turn: GEMINI MAN Trailer

youtu.be/AbyJignbS…

WILL SMITH vs. WILL SMITH in a BATTLE OF WILL SMITHS

UNIQLO x STAR WARS Collection Revealed

Hypebeast:

Love this collection, especially the Japanese Star Wars logo, and the cool throwback McQuarrie logo.

AMC Theatres to Offer 24/7 Showings of AVENGERS: ENDGAME This Weekend

IndieWire:

Such a move is incredibly rare, though it has happened at least once before: in 1965, when the James Bond film “Thunderball" arrived in theaters. That film, adjusted for inflation, was a bigger hit than “The Dark Knight" 43 years later.

This movie will be huge.

I kinda want to pop in for a random 4am screening or something.

Tesla Unveils RoboTaxi’ Ride-Sharing Plan

Electrek:

Absolutely insane. Tomorrow’s future is here, today.

I have a lot of questions about the logistics of this, but on paper - this is an incredible idea.

The Case AGAINST Watching Movie Trailers

www.youtube.com/watch

Great video from Dave Chen and Jeff Cannata from the /Filmcast, one of my favorite podcasts.

I know, it’s ironic, considering how many trailers I share on here, but for the most part, I’ve grown into watching the first trailers for movies, then not watching any others if I’m already sold. If I want to know more (like, I was sold on Toy Story 4, but I had no idea of the plot, and wanted to know), I’ll watch trailers 2-through-whichever.

That said — I don’t go the extreme routes which Dave and Jeff do: if I’m at a movie screening, I’ll watch the trailers as they spool, but I’m trying to get caught up less in the hype machine.

Ms. Marvel Gets A Brand New Costume

Marvel.com:

In Saladin Ahmed and Minkyu Jung’s recently launched MAGNIFICENT MS. MARVEL, it hasn’t been business as usual in Jersey City. Aliens are wreaking havoc in Kamala’s corner of the world, and they seem weirdly interested in her…and her family. As this new tale spins Ms. Marvel into outer space and unprecedented adventures, she’s about to learn that sometimes even victory comes at a cost. And in issue #5, Kamala has no choice but to pay up…

As the Jersey City hero heads toward the explosive finale of her adventure across space, she finds her life forever changed—and her costume too!

I like it!

'DC Cancels Orders for DC LUCHA EXPLOSIVA! Line'

Newsarama:

This sucks, but these figures may have been one of those “too weird to live" items. Alas.

Facebook Now Says They Were Storing INSTAGRAM Passwords In Plain-Text, Too

TechCrunch:

The social media giant confirmed the new information in its updated blog post, first published on March 21.

At what point does Facebook feel any amount of heat for everything they’ve done in terms of user privacy (or lack thereof?)

MoviePass Lost a Shit-Ton of Subscribers

Business Insider:

I guess they really are going to be the Napster of the movie theater subscription world: shows what people want, has no business plan, and dies sadly.

Poster Posse Takes on Netflix in Their Latest Collection

Poster Posse:

Looks great as always.

5G Networks Could Botch Weather Predictions

Hackaday:

What made this increase in accuracy possible is supercomputers running sophisticated weather modeling software. But models are only as good as the raw data that they use as input, and increasingly that data comes from on high. A constellation of satellites with extremely sensitive sensors watches the planet, detecting changes in winds and water vapor in near real-time. But if the people tasked with running these systems are to be believed, the quality of that data faces a mortal threat from an unlikely foe: the rollout of 5G cellular networks.

There is something darkly humorous to me that in an era of unpredictable weather due to climate change, we may harm our ability to foresee said weather…so our cell phones can download things faster.

Marvel Announces the New VALKYRIE

Marvel.com:

Pretty cool, given how popular her series as Thor was.

TUCA & BERTIE Trailer: The Next Project from The Team Behind BOJACK HORSEMAN

www.youtube.com/watch

Very much giving me a Broad-City-if-it-were-anthropomorphic-animals vibe.

MOUSE GUARD Film Adaptation Scrapped Just Two Weeks Before Production Was Set To Begin

The Hollywood Reporter:

Behold, the other edge of the sword of getting everyone back in the MCU and The Simpsons on Disney+.

CHILD’S PLAY - Trailer #2

www.youtube.com/watch

Mark Hamill as Chucky’s voice is the weirdest goddamned thing.

FAST & FURIOUS PRESENTS: HOBBS & SHAW - Trailer #2

youtu.be/HZ7PAyCDw…

Continuing in my trend of “If I watch the first trailer and like it, I will not bother with watching the others", I haven’t watched a frame of this trailer.

But goddamn am I hyped for Hobbs & Shaw.

Facebook Accidentally’ Ingests the Contact Lists of 1.5 Million Users

Business Insider:

Since May 2016, the social-networking company has collected the contact lists of 1.5 million users new to the social network, Business Insider can reveal. The Silicon Valley company said the contact data was “unintentionally uploaded to Facebook,” and it is now deleting them.

Jesus. Fucking. Christ. This company.

The Smaller, Cheaper Nintendo Switch Set For Fall, Enhanced’ Model Pushed Back

The Verge (Translating Nikkei):

A more powerful “next-generation" version with a major redesign is further off, according to today’s report, although it’s not clear from the language whether Nikkei is referring to the enhanced Switch model that The Wall Street Journal has reported is likely to be coming this year.

There was a (now removed) leak yesterday of what appeared to be the body of this smaller, portable only Switch (think the 2DS to Nintendo’s 3DS) - I could see it selling well.

Me, I’m just waiting to see what the “enhanced" model brings.

Kristen Wiig to Reteam with BRIDESMAIDS Screenwriter for New Comedy

Variety:

Wiig and Mumolo co-wrote and will co-star in the film, which will be directed by Josh Greenbaum.

The pic tells the story of best friends Barb and Star (Wiig and Mumolo), who leave their small midwestern town for the first time to go on vacation in Vista Del Mar, Fla., where they soon find themselves tangled up in adventure, love and a villain’s evil plot to kill everyone in town.

Sounds fun! I find it interesting how — Ghostbusters and Wonder Woman 1984 aside — Wiig has mostly stuck to unique, interesting indie projects as opposed to going for the big star move.

I was a big fan of Bridesmaids, so I’m hoping this is just as solid.

SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME Arrives A Few Days Early

/Film:

The new Spider-Man Far From Home release date has been set for Tuesday, July 2, a few days before the previous weekend release that would have started on Friday, July 5.

Dope. Ya mo be there.

TRAIN TO BUSAN’s Ma Dong-seok Signs On For Marvel’s THE ETERNALS

TheWrap:

Details about the role for the actor, who broke out in 2016’s South Korean zombie apocalypse action thriller “Train to Busan,“ are being kept under wraps.

I was not as high on Train to Busan as others, but I’m very intrigued by the cast being pulled together for The Eternals.

Facebook Working on a Voice Assistant You Won’t Use

CNBC:

The tech company has been working on this new initiative since early 2018. The effort is coming out of the company’s augmented reality and virtual reality group, a division that works on hardware, including the company’s virtual reality Oculus headsets.

Fuck that.

Just In Time For All The Controversy - Here’s a First-Look at DC Universe’s SWAMP THING

youtu.be/V8TKZu5Pb…

That’s some cool makeup, but shame about…y’know, the show.

You CAN See Him: John Cena in Talks for SUICIDE SQUAD Sequel

Variety:

Sources tell Variety that Cena is in talks to join Idris Elba and Margot Robbie in Warner Bros.’ follow-up to 2016’s “Suicide Squad.“

Robbie is returning as Harley Quinn and Jai Courtney is back as Captain Boomerang. Variety first reported that the studio decided to have Elba play a brand-new character instead of taking on Deadshot, a character portrayed by Will Smith in the first film. It’s currently unknown who Cena and Elba will be playing.

Hell yeah. Get that franchise check, John!

Showtime Casts Master Chief for its HALO Series

TheWrap:

Schrieber will play the lead character, who is described as Earth’s most advanced warrior in the 26th century and the only hope of salvation for a civilization pushed to the brink of destruction by the Covenant, an unstoppable alliance of alien worlds committed to the destruction of humanity.

Two thoughts:

Mike Meyers to Headline Netflix Half-Hour Series

Variety:

Hmm. Wonder if this will be a sketch thing, or a weird sitcom where he plays multiple characters, a’la Eddie Murphy in The Nutty Professor.

Bad News for DC Universe? SWAMP THING Production Suddenly Halted

Star News:

The currently in-production project is being shut down earlier than expected as its producer, Warner Bros., evaluates the future of its DC Universe streaming service, on which the series was scheduled to premiere May 31, according to several sources within the local industry.

Local crew members were notified of the unexpected development Tuesday night, and were told the project would wrap production on episode 10 and then halt as writers and producers rewrite an ending. Initially, the show was scheduled to film 13 episodes through May.

Huh.

Now, I just signed up for DC Universe earlier this month with my personal focus being the comics, since they’re basically bringing everything up to date (with a year cut-off, a’la Marvel Unlimited’s 6-month cut off.)

I haven’t really touched too much of their original content, mostly focusing on the comics and episodes of the Batman animated series, but this is a bummer if WB is already looking into pulling the plug.

A First-Look at the 2019 Reboot of CHARLIE’S ANGELS

Entertainment Weekly:

It’s only logical. As Banks puts it, her update isn’t a reboot or a remake of the beloved franchise, but rather a “continuation" that incorporates the events of the original 1970s TV series and the McG-directed 2000s films. And so, she imagines, in the more than 40 years since Charlie assembled his first trio of Angels, he must have given his operation a makeover. “If you were rich in 1976, you only got richer,“ Banks, who co-wrote the script, says with a laugh. “Charles Townsend is richer than ever, so he’s grown the business into a global spy agency.“

His expanded roster includes the crew at the center of Banks’ story: Sabina Wilson (Kristen Stewart), the hard-partying, highly skilled wild card; Jane Kano (Ella Balinska), the ex-MI6 muscle of the group; and Elena Houghlin (Aladdin’s Naomi Scott), the MIT-trained scientist who, Banks says, serves as “the heart of the movie.“

I like the idea that this is building on the two prior renditions.

Recognizing that this one is hitting sixteen years after the last film just makes me feel old, though.

Final DARK PHOENIX Trailer Doesn’t Do Much to Address the Fears of the Prior Two

youtu.be/azvR__GRQ…

Woof. This looks bad.

I feel sorry for all the talent with this weight attached to their ankles.

BOND 25 Gets A New, Electric Aston Martin

Electrek:

That’s a very pretty car.

The MINECRAFT Movie is Now Set for March 2022

TheWrap:

Based on the globally popular video game in which players craft buildings, weapons and even environments in a sandbox world, the film will follow a teenage girl and her unlikely group of adventurers who, after the malevolent Ender Dragon sets out on a path of destruction, must save their beautiful, blocky Overworld.

I get that Minecraft is incredibly popular, but…uh…do we really need a movie version of this?

Travis Knight to Helm Mark Wahlberg’s THE SIX BILLION DOLLAR MAN

Variety:

Sue Kroll, Bill Gerber and Steve Levinson are producing with Bill DuBuque penning the script.

“The Six Billion Dollar Man" is based on the sci-fi TV series “The Six Million Dollar Man,“ which is about a former astronaut, Colonel Steve Austin, portrayed by Lee Majors. Majors’ character, employed as a secret agent, had superhuman strength due to bionic implants. The series ran for five seasons on ABC between 1973 and 1978, and was based on Martin Caidin’s novel “Cyborg.“

I loved Knight’s work with Laika, and was surprised by how enjoyable Bumblebee was. I’m not too sure about this one though.

John Cusack Joins Amazon’s UTOPIA Remake

TheWrap:

Cusack will play Dr. Kevin Christie. Charismatic and media-savvy, with a brilliant biotech mind and a philanthropic outlook, Christie altruistically wants to change the world through science.

“Utopia" follows a group of young adults who meet online, and “are mercilessly hunted by a shadowy deep state organization after they come in to possession of a near-mythical cult underground graphic novel — they discover the conspiracy theories in the comic’s pages may actually be real and are forced into the dangerous, unique and ironic position of saving the world.“

This cast keeps kicking ass — now if only there was a legal way for me to watch the UK original in the States.

Capcom Reveals...THE CAPCOM HOME ARCADE

Capcom:

Featuring 16 of the best Capcom titles from the golden-age of arcade gaming, the two full-size premium stick and button configurations allow these games to be played the way they were meant to be played.

On paper, having all these arcade games as they were meant to be played sounds pretty cool!

But there are some strange missing titles (Street Fighter II Turbo and not Super Street Fighter II Turbo? No Marvel vs. Capcom? No Street Fighter Alpha?) and the idea of putting it all in a giant shiny Capcom logo sure seems silly to me. Pass.

NBC News: 'Mark Zuckerberg leveraged Facebook user data to fight rivals and help friends, leaked documents show'

Olivia Solon and Cyrus Farivar for NBC News:

The documents, which include emails, webchats, presentations, spreadsheets and meeting summaries, show how Zuckerberg, along with his board and management team, found ways to tap Facebook’s trove of user data — including information about friends, relationships and photos — as leverage over companies it partnered with.

Jesus Christ. The fucking balls on these guys.

Y: THE LAST MAN TV Series Loses Its Showrunners

Variety:

Variety has confirmed that series showrunners Michael Green and AÁ¯da Mashaka Croal have departed the series due to creative differences. A spokesperson for FX said the network is still planning to move forward with the series with its current cast. Diane Lane stars, leading an ensemble cast featuring Barry Keoghan, Imogen Poots, Lashana Lynch, Juliana Canfield, Marin Ireland, and Amber Tamblyn.

I’m beginning to think that any adaptation of Y: The Last Man is cursed.

WIRED: 'What to Expect from Sony's Next-Gen PlayStation'

Peter Rubin at Wired:

You’d have good reason for thinking otherwise. Sony and Microsoft both extended the current console generation via a mid-cycle refresh, with the Xbox One and PlayStation 4spawning mini-sequels (the Xbox One S and PS4 Pro). “The key question,“ Cerny says, “is whether the console adds another layer to the sorts of experiences you already have access to, or if it allows for fundamental changes in what a game can be.“

The answer, in this case, is the latter. It’s why we’re sitting here, secreted away in a conference room at Sony’s headquarters in Foster City, California, where Cerny is finally detailing the inner workings of the as-yet-unnamed console that will replace the PS4.

Hell of an exclusive for Wired!

Solid state drives, fancier graphics, and (thankfully) Mark Cerny orchestrating it all.

First iOS 13 Details Leak

9to5Mac:

Dark Mode, iPad Multitasking and more! Sounds exciting.

A First Look at STAR WARS - JEDI: FALLEN ORDER

youtu.be/0GLbwkfhY…

It’s a very pretty trailer - with definite signs that this is from the team whom developed Titanfall (I see you, Wall Run!), but until I see actual gameplay, I’m neither thrilled nor dreading the game.

I Guess We're Going to Get a TOMB RAIDER 2

Deadline:

She is best known for her collaborations with director and partner Ben Wheatley, who co-wrote several of them. That includes Free Fire, the action drama that starred Brie Larson, Cillian Murphy and Armie Hammer. Her other credits include the Wheatley-directed Kill List, A Field In England, Sightseers, and High-Rise. The films are cult favorites in the UK. She broadens the pool of female action writers, who are now in high demand. Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Alastair Siddons wrote the first installment. Warner Bros released the first film.

I really loved Free Fire, but the first Vikander-lead Tomb Raider movie was basically audio-visual wallpaper to me. There’s really only one direction this can go — up.

VERONICA MARS is BACK, This July

www.youtube.com/watch

It’s an announcement day, isn’t it?

The Kareem Abdul Jabbar-penned series (really!) hits Hulu on July 26th.

STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER Teaser

www.youtube.com/watch

…is that Palpatine?!

SAGA Officially Confirmed to Run 108 Issues

In an Entertainment Weekly Article showcasing the cover of the first Saga Compendium, containing the first 54 issues…

I’m glad they have an ending to work toward!

Disney+ to Arrive November 12, 2019, Just $7 a Month

Disney PR:

In short - every rumored show is real, the price is amazing (it drops to $70, if you do a yearly subscription), and holy shit, they’re going to have pretty much every episode of The Simpsons.

Day one.

X-STATIX to Return

The Beat:

Giant-Sized X-Statix #1 was announced Thursday from writer Peter Milligan, artist Michael Allred, colorist Laura Allred, and letterer Nate Piekos. Allred officially tipped it himself on social media, noting it “had the longest gestation and longest held secret" of any comics project that he’s done. For days (if not weeks), Allred has been noting on Twitter that he’s about to announce two projects that are years in the making, along with a new creator-owned comic.

Great! I love Mike Allred’s stuff, so I’m always glad for more.

The Behind the Scenes Throwdowns Which Lead to the New HELLBOY

The Wrap:

Certainly explains how this got a whopping 12% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Donald Glover's New Film GUAVA ISLAND to Premiere on Amazon Prime This Weekend

Vanity Fair:

What a cool way to build a buzzy moment in the era of streaming.

Alas, I’m going to be out of town this weekend, so I don’t know that I will be able to watch it before it goes off Prime.

Full Trailer for THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2

youtu.be/mYocfuqu2…

Finally, we’ve moved on from the non-stop character trailers.

Looks like the kids’ll be delighted and my niece will be stoked.

BARRY Gets Season 3 at HBO

Variety:

The news comes less than two weeks after the second season debuted on March 31.

One of the best shows on TV, hands down.

Ken Jeong & Kiersey Clemons Join SCOOB

Deadline:

Besides being good additions, the wild part about their characters is that these continue to mine odd sections of the Hanna Barbera universe, with Jeong as Dynamutt and Clemons as Dee Dee Sykes, a tertiary character from Captain Caveman.

Facebook Delays 'Clear History' Tool. Yet Again.

Engadget:

I’m beginning to think that this will never actually come out. Not a shock.

Disney Announces Non-Fiction Marvel Series for Disney+

Marvel.com:

“Marvel’s Hero Project" reveals the remarkable, positive change several young heroes are making in their own communities. These inspiring kids have dedicated their lives to selfless acts of bravery and kindness, and now, Marvel celebrates them as the true Super Heroes they are.

“Marvel’s 616" (working title) is an anthological documentary series exploring the intersection between Marvel’s rich legacy of stories, characters and creators and the world outside your window. Told through the lens of a diverse group of filmmakers, each documentary will dive into the rich historical, cultural and societal context that has become inseparable from stories of the Marvel Universe.

616 sounds infinitely more interesting than Hero Project does, but who knows, maybe they’ll be good.

HAWKEYE Series in Development for Disney+

Variety:

Variety has learned from sources that Disney’s upcoming streaming service is officially developing a limited series based on the archery ace Marvel character with Renner attached to star. The project is said to be an adventure series in which Clint Barton, a.k.a. Hawkeye, will pass the torch to Kate Bishop. Bishop is a Marvel Comics character who took up the Hawkeye mantle after Barton. She is also a member of the group known as the Young Avengers.

AW YES KATE BISHOP TIME

We have the first real image of a Black Hole

National Science Foundation:

Today, in coordinated press conferences across the globe, EHT researchers reveal that they have succeeded, unveiling the first direct visual evidence of a supermassive black hole and its shadow.

So goddamned cool. Check it out.

Standalone TV, Podcast, Music Apps Planned for macOS 10.15

9to5Mac:

Fellow developer Steve Troughton-Smith recently expressed confidence about some evidence found indicating that Apple is working on new Music, Podcasts, and perhaps Books apps for macOS, to join the new TV app.

I’ve been able to independently confirm that this is true. On top of that, I’ve been able to confirm with sources familiar with the development of the next major version of macOS — likely 10.15 — that the system will include standalone Music, Podcasts, and TV apps, but it will also include a major redesign of the Books app. We also got an exclusive look at the icons for the new Podcasts and TV apps on macOS.

About time. I just hope that with these being Marzipan based, the keyboard commands are a little more natural, unlike with say — the new App Store and/or Apple News.

Russo Brothers to Oversee MGM Remakes

Deadline:

Kinda crazy to see a studio essentially give two creatives the keys of the castle as architects, but hey, totally rad for the Russos, right?

Marvel Finally Gives THE INVISIBLE WOMAN Her Own Series

Marvel PR:

This July, the superstar creative team of Mark Waid (Avengers No Road Home, Doctor Strange), Mattia De Iulis (Jessica Jones), and Adam Hughes (Star Wars, Captain America) take Sue on a journey that will unlock the secrets of her past in the most surprising way!

Kinda surprised they never did this before. The Adam Hughes cover is pretty nice.

THE LION KING Gets a Full, Proper Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

Goddamn, that animation is gorgeous.

HIGH FIDELITY Series Moves From Disney+ to Hulu

Deadline:

Makes sense - High Fidelity was an odd property for the presumably family friendly Disney+, and this underlines Hulu as the “mature" counterpart.

The MONSTERS INC. Cast to Return for Disney+'s MONSTERS AT WORK

Deadline:

Dope! I love both movies, and would be game for this. This seems to be one of the Pixar universes with the widest breadth for storytelling.

JUMBO: Privacy Made Easier, in App Form

Jumbo:

You can get it today on iOS. The Android version is coming soon.

I’m very interested to see how long this works — I feel like all of these companies could kill this app with a simple change of their APIs.

And for those worried about the security aspects of this, understandably so, the app is developed by Pierre Valade, who also created the now defunct (acquired by Microsoft) Sunrise Calendar, so dude is legit.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY Teaser Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

I really love how well they’ve adapted the Charles Addams designs into 3D.

Rich Moore Leaves Disney for Sony Pictures Animation

Variety:

Sony Pictures Animation, which made the announcement on Monday, said Moore will also be be available to act in an advisory capacity with ongoing feature film and series-based projects.

Wow, this is kind of a surprise.

I guess having a John Lassiter-esq role was the key to bring him over, but I figured Moore was Disney for life. I’d love to know the full story here.

Ikea and Sonos Finally Reveal Their Speaker Line

Gizmodo:

These look really cool, and are shockingly low priced.

I will be avidly watching for reviews.

AMC Moving Forward with a Third WALKING DEAD Series

TV Line:

The follow-up to Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead — co-created by franchise overlord Scott M. Gimple and longtime TWD scribe Matt Negrete — will, per AMC, “feature two young female protagonists and focus on the first generation to come-of-age in the apocalypse as we know it. Some will become heroes. Some will become villains. In the end, all of them will be changed forever. Grown-up and cemented in their identities, both good and bad.“

I guess AMC will just slowly become the Walking Dead channel. Shame we couldn’t have gotten so many Mad Men spinoffs.

STUBER Trailer: Terrible Name for What Looks Like a Good Movie

www.youtube.com/watch

I really, really hate the name Stuber.

I really, really love Dave Bautista and Kumail Nanjiani as a comedy duo.

I think this might be a very fun movie!

Dave Bautista to Lead Zack Snyder’s ARMY OF THE DEAD

Deadline:

Scripted by Shay Hatten and Snyder, the adventure is set amid a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas, during which a man assembles a group of mercenaries to take the ultimate gamble: venturing into the quarantined zone to pull off the greatest heist ever attempted. Zack Snyder and Deborah Snyder are producing, and Ori Marmur and Andrew Norman are overseeing it for Netflix.

I really enjoyed Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead redux, so why the heck not?

Kumail Nanjiani in talks to join THE ETERNALS

The Hollywood Reporter:

The comedian and Oscar-nominee is in negotiations to star alongside Angelina Jolie in The Eternals, one of two features that Marvel is prepping to shoot this year.

Like I said - Marvel just keeps picking up my favorite actors.

Amazon Snags WESTWORLD Creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy in Exclusive Deal

Variety:

Variety has learned that Nolan and Joy and their Kilter Films banner have signed a massive overall deal at Amazon, meaning the pair will exit their current deal with Warner Bros. Television. Sources say the new deal is worth $150 million over five years. Amazon declined to comment.

They’ll still be working on Westworld for HBO, but this is a big grab from Amazon.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Heinz UK tells Heinz US to Hold Its Beer, Makes Cadbury Creme Egg Mayo

Mashable:

Fuck right off with that.

And I love Cadbury Creme Eggs.

The COWBOY BEBOP Live-Action Series Cast Has Been Announced, and It Rules

Variety:

John Cho, Mustafa Shakir, Daniella Pineda, and Alex Hassell have all been cast in lead roles in the series, which is based on the anime series of the same name.

In order, they’re your Spike Spiegel, Jet Black, Faye Valentine and Vicious. Hell yes.

A CGI DRAGON QUEST Movie Is Coming, and It Looks Gorgeous!

www.youtube.com/watch

My only gripe is that the design work isn’t more Toriyama.

Otherwise? Hope it makes the states.

Vans x Bowie Revealed

Hypebeast:

Very cool stuff! I especially dig the Aladdin Sane Lightning Bolt hat!

Rachel Weisz in Discussions for BLACK WIDOW, Too!

Variety:

Though a deal has not yet been completed, sources tell Variety that talks are headed in that direction, with strong interest from both sides of negotiations.

Just keep loading this movie with my favorite people, Marvel.

Yet ANOTHER Facebook Fuckup: Your Data was on Publicly Accessible Amazon Servers

Bloomberg:

In one instance, Mexico City-based media company Cultura Colectiva openly stored 540 million records on Facebook users, including identification numbers, comments, reactions and account names. That database was closed on Wednesday after Bloomberg alerted Facebook to the problem and Facebook contacted Amazon. Facebook shares pared their gains after the Bloomberg News report.

Even if you say “I have nothing to hide, I have nothing to worry about.“…this is one of the biggest data repositories in the world where no one is bothering to properly secure or control it.

Facebook continues to be a beast we control, a beast we created, and a beast we never stop feeding. Ugh.

Beats Unveils The Powerbeats Pro - The Kick-Ass AirPod Upgrade You’ve Been Waiting For

The Verge:

I love my AirPods, and I don’t typically like this “fit" of earbud, but I’d be willing to try em on and see what I think.

David Harbour Joins the BLACK WIDOW Cast

The Hollywood Reporter:

The movie is casting up as it heads towards a June start of production in London and recently added rising actress Florence Pugh to the call sheet.

…Interesting.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Heinz Continues Being That Kid at Lunch, Now Combines Ketchup and Ranch to Make…KRANCH

Chew Boom:

The latest saucy condiment mashup features a mix of ketchup, ranch and a special blend of spices.

Representing the fourth in a growing lineup of saucy condiment mashups, Kranch joins Mayocue and Mayomust, alongside the mashup that started it all, Mayochup.

Sweet god.

What’s next?

Adobe Brings Content-Aware Fill to After Effects

Gizmodo:

Wild stuff. Hope it’s not used for evil purposes!

Today in Facebook Blunders: They’re Asking New Users for Their Email Passwords?

Kevin Poulsen at The Daily Beast:

Facebook users are being interrupted by an interstitial demanding they provide the password for the email account they gave to Facebook when signing up. “To continue using Facebook, you’ll need to confirm your email,“ the message demands. “Since you signed up with email address, you can do that automatically …“

A form below the message asked for the users’ “email password.“

This is some Nigerian Prince email level bullshit.

JOKER Teaser: It’s Not A Tragedy - It’s a Comedy

youtu.be/t433PEQGE…

Well, this is certainly…different.

Here’s the poster, too.

'How BioWare's Anthem Went Wrong'

THE DEAD DON’T DIE is a Real Movie, I Swear

youtu.be/bs5ZOcU6B…

THAT CAST! Holy shit.

Greatest Zombie Movie ever?

John Oliver Takes on the WWE on LAST WEEK TONIGHT

www.youtube.com/watch

Probably not the mainstream publicity which Vince McMahon was hoping for during WrestleMania week.

(Not that this excuses it — fans have been complaining about the “independent contractor" mess for years — but UFC is setup much the same.)

ThinkGeek’s 2019 April Fool’s Day Items

As every year, the fine nerdy good shopkeepers at ThinkGeek have produced a series of fake items for April Fool’s Day.

What’s on the docket for 2019?

I’d say the Barb book and the Thor mailbox are most likely to become real.

CHILD’S PLAY Reboot: Meet Your New Chucky…MARK HAMILL!

Deadline:

I’ve been watching Batman: The Animated Series this weekend and have been reminded how great Hamill was as the Joker. I bet he’s going to be right proper creepy as Chucky, too.

Pro-Wrestling x True Crime: This is Viceland’s DARK SIDE OF THE RING

youtu.be/3TAUzyHSj…

This is the perfect Venn diagram of my wife and I’s interests. Hits April 10th.

Sega to Release GENESIS MINI in September

Game Informer:

Sega revealed the console today on stage in Tokyo at the Sega Fes conference, highlighting that the system will come with over 40 games, including titles like Shining Force and Castlevania Bloodlines, though the American branch of the company hasn’t said if a U.S. release will have a different game list or not. When the console was revealed last year, Sega announced that it would release in 2018 and be spearheaded by AtGames, infamous for the disappointing variations on the same shelf-size Genesis concept already. Sega eventually gave AtGames the boot and retooled the idea internally to come out with this.

If you’re interested, its up for pre-order on Amazon here.

DC Comics to Add Their ENTIRE BACKLOG to DC Universe

Engadget:

This is what made me pull the trigger on a DC Universe subscription over the weekend.

Good news - they updated their comic reader to allow you to stream books versus downloading them.

Valve’s Got a VR Headset of Their Own

Ars Technica:

That’s cool!

Still haven’t really found myself caring too much about VR.

McKenna Grace to lead new GHOSTBUSTERS Movie

Entertainment Weekly:

McKenna Grace, the 12-year-old actress who played a relentless kid version of Carol Danvers in the Marvel Studios hit has signed on to director Jason Reitman’s new Ghostbusters film, sources tell EW.

I guess this really is going to be Stranger Things x Ghostbusters.

Cillian Murphy in Talks to Join A QUIET PLACE 2

The Hollywood Reporter:

Blunt and kid stars Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe are reprising their roles as the family fighting to survive a world crawling with noise-targeting creatures, with John Krasinski back in the director’s chair. Krasinski is also writing the script.

Murphy is one of those sneaky good actors who you forget how great he is until you see him in something — I’d love to see what he has to bring to the table here.

The Duel’

www.youtube.com/watch

From last night’s Saturday Night Live, hosted by Sandra Oh.

Possibly the most gory sketch since this favorite of mine from a few years ago.

Apple Cancels AirPower

TechCrunch:

“After much effort, we’ve concluded AirPower will not achieve our high standards and we have cancelled the project. We apologize to those customers who were looking forward to this launch. We continue to believe that the future is wireless and are committed to push the wireless experience forward,“ said Dan Riccio, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering in an emailed statement today.

Bummer. In the meantime, I recommend one of these.

Alfred IS James Bond IN…The First Teaser for PENNYWORTH

youtu.be/aThLUgsI9…

Looks fun, but this is not enough for me to sign up for…

uh…

Epix?

Whatever that is?

It’s Official: Allegedly Confirmed Rumors Suggest Something Will Happen* In The Next STAR WARS’

Scott Wampler at Birth.Movies.Death.:

HUGE if true.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Taco Bell Now Has a Donut, Too

Thrillist:

I’d try it. Taco Bell breakfast is sneaky good.

The Proper Trailer for SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK is Here

youtu.be/N3J2k3Nhi…

Hell to the naw naw. These books fucked me up as a kid, and this trailer looks to fuck me up now as a 34-year-old adult man.

defaultfile.name

No, I haven’t botched the headline.

defaultfile.name is a really clever website which randomly loads videos from YouTube where the user forgot to change the name from the default output from device.

Basically, these videos would be unseen and unwatched pretty much any other way, and the end result is one of the best examples of “Old Internet" I’ve seen on the web in some time. Enjoy!

The BORDERLANDS 3 Trailer is, Mercifully, Here

After a lengthy live-streamed PAX East panel from Gearbox Software, which included announcements of Borderlands 1 re-releases, upgrades, re-releases of other Gearbox titles, and even card tricks, we finally have a look at Borderlands 3 proper.

Basically, if you didn’t watch the live-stream? You’re a genius. Enjoy.

www.youtube.com/watch

Angelina Jolie in talks to join the MCU in THE ETERNALS

The Hollywood Reporter:

The Oscar-winning actress is in talks to star in Marvel Studios' The Eternals, a superhero team adventure feature being directed by Chloe Zhao.

Would be another big name get for Marvel Studios, important, especially with the number of key names whose contracts are up after Avengers: Endgame.

How long until we see Tom Cruise in an MCU movie?

’Kelly Sue DeConnick and Matt Fraction talk comics, careers, and working with your spouse’

Susana Polo at Polygon:

Really enjoyed this interview.

A great look at the creative process, marriage, and working relationship, of two of the best writers in the comics game today.

#FastFoodArmsRace: M&Ms Now Have Hazelnut Creme Shoved in Them

Chew Boom:

Set to roll out nationwide in April 2019, M&M’S Hazelnut Spread Chocolate Candies feature a hazelnut spread center covered in milk chocolate and a coated is a classic M&M’S candy shell.

Hell yeah, dude! M&M’s x Nutella is a combo I am here for.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Domino’s France Has a Love Affair with Hot Dogs

Brand Eating:

That’s certainly a choice, Domino’s FR.

Grey Matter Art Releasing New Andy Fairhurst SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE Print on Thursday

Grey Matter Art:

Such a dope poster for such a dope film.

Zoe Lister-Jones to Write and Direct Reboot of THE CRAFT

Deadline:

Inspired choice for director!

I know that for those who love The Craft, the original is a very specific, very important movie to them, so I hope all parties are treading carefully.

More Details on Those New Nintendo Switch Models

Eurogamer:

On the cheaper option, first, yesterday’s report suggested it would be aimed at casual gamers currently still using Nintendo’s 3DS. The company is keen to move these players over to Switch - many of them Nintendo’s youngest fans, who have been bought cheaper versions of the 3DS.

But rather than comparing it to a 3DS, Nintendo is, I’m told, keen to recapture the 2DS value proposition. Similar to 2DS, the unit’s design will be sturdier than the current Switch model in order to be “kid-proof”.

…damnit, am I going to buy another Switch?

The Web Slinger Goes International in New SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME Posters

Medicom May've Made the Greatest Cyclops Action Figure of All Time

The Toyark:

This is absolutely fantastic.

I was a huge fan of the Jim Lee-era Cyclops look as a kid, and this looks straight from the page.

Nintendo’s Planning TWO New Switch Models for This Year

Takashi Mochizuki for the Wall Street Journal:

Apparently, one is a cheaper, bargain focused model, and the other will be focused on improvements for hardcore gamers.

I look forward to seeing how both pan out!

…my kingdom for an option to upload your purchased, physical games directly to the device…

Jonathan Hickman Returns to Marvel, To Take on the X-Men

Marvel.com:

Ever since Stan Lee and Jack Kirby introduced the X-Men, fans everywhere have followed the extraordinary stories of the X-Men through seminal moments like GIANT-SIZE X-MEN, 1991’s X-MEN #1, AGE OF APOCALYPSE, and NEW X-MEN. Each of these moments introduced a new era for mutantkind—and starting this summer, the world will experience the next seminal moment in the history of the X-Men with HOUSE OF X and POWERS OF X.

His Fantastic Four and Avengers runs were incredible. Lets see what he can do with the mutants!

’The Elaborate, Dying Art of Hustling for Money at Dave & Buster’s’

Justin Caffier for Vice:

As a kid, the idea of doing this at an arcade was a daydream scenario - just go full Ocean’s Eleven and get the great prizes. It was even the plot of a great Bob’s Burgers episode.

But to find out that it was real? That’s why this is a great read.

Us’ Movie Explained: Exploring the Biggest Questions and Craziest Twists in Jordan Peele’s Film’

/Film:

I just read a bunch of these. If you read one, long-form spoiler filled analysis and discussion about Us, its ending, its symbolism, and its themes, make it this one.

Maybe I’ll write out my theory when the movie has been out longer.

Us (2019): A Review

Comedy — as an art form — can be undervalued. While its primary purpose is to make us laugh, great comedy speaks truth to power.

Horror, similarly, is considered a cheap thrill. But in its best forms, speaks to darker truths about society and humanity.

In that regard - it shouldn’t have been a surprise that with his directorial debut, Get Out, Jordan Peele, already a modern master of comedy with his great sketch series Key & Peele, proved that he could master horror.

The difference that time? The world took note.

Award nominations, Best Picture nominations, Get Out gained the respect of both general audiences and cinephiles alike, and made Jordan Peele a creator worth watching. Hollywood wanted a piece of him too, trying to place him on bigger blockbuster projects. Instead, he said “I got this", and decided to continue on his own path.

Peele’s second film - the all difficult sophomore release - Us has hit theaters this weekend, and I’m pleased to say that it underlines every bit of positivity he was met with his debut and cements him as a directorial, creative force.

For those who haven’t seen the trailers, I’ll give you the brief synopsis of what Us is about. It’s about a family - an average one not unlike yours and mine. A strong mother (Lupita Nyong’o), a kinda lame dad (Winston Duke), the awkward teenage daughter (Shahadi Wright), the sweet baby brother (Evan Alex). They’re off for a beach trip. Things are going well - they’re seeing their friends (Tim H Heidecker and Elisabeth Moss), they’re enjoying the sun - when, late at night, another family arrives at their beach house.

That family? Their twisted doppelgÁ¤ngers.

The film that follows is full of intense, creepy, disturbing action — peppered with Peele’s sense of humor (both light and dark) — almost in the shade of a less graphically violent Funny Games. But, as Get Out taught us - there’s something more here.

Peele continues to build movies in his unique creative vision. Beautifully shot, tension filled, but not afraid of human moments. It’s obsessed with vintage ephemera, yet incredibly of its time, all the while speaking to a greater truth of who we are.

The title Us, unsurprisingly, means more - us as a people, us as a family, us as a nation, us as a populace. But Us is also about “them". Them as a cumulative, them as a negative, them as the inverse of us.

And then there’s that ending. You’re going to be debating this one with friends for some time, and it seals that Us is a movie you need to see more than once. I already can’t wait to take my wife to see it and watch it again and again on iTunes.

Performances in the film are, unsurprisingly, great. Nyong’o’s been craving the big lead breakout role she gets here, and her acting - both as her self and her ersatz doppelgÁ¤nger are performances which will go down in the horror lexicon. I absolutely adored Winston Duke’s performance as the put-upon father, and without saying too much, Tim Heidecker has a moment in the movie which takes his history of surreal humor and spins it into a new light.

With Get Out, we got to see the birth of a new, strong voice in cinema. Us is its refinement. The sophomore curse? Dashed. I don’t know that Us is the straightforward crowd pleaser that Get Out was, but for sure, the film confirms that anything Jordan Peele makes from now on - I’m there opening weekend.

Us is in theaters now.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Dunkin’ Celebrates the Boston Marathon with Custom Sneakers

Harry Hill at Mashable:

Since both Dunkin' and Saucony are Boston-based, the collaboration is sure to hit a sweet spot amongst locals— as well as fans across the country.

America now will literally run on Dunkin’.

Pick em up — along with a classy “BOSTON RUNNAH" tee — here.

Brie Larson Steps Behind the Camera With Netflix's Unicorn Store (Trailer)

youtu.be/r_51UsTDB…

Here’s your synopsis:

That’s a hell of a cast, and yet another team-up of surprising real-life besties Larson and Samuel L. Jackson.

As is said many times here: It’s Netflix, So Why Not Watch It?â„¢

The Criterion Channel Announces Its Launch Content Lineup

Criterion:

The new service will host the Criterion Collection and Janus Films’ ever-growing library of more than 1,000 feature films, 350 shorts, and 3,500 supplementary features, including trailers, introductions, behind-the-scenes documentaries, interviews, video essays, commentary tracks, and rare archival footage. It will also feature a constantly refreshed selection of films from a wide array of studio and independent licensors including Sony Pictures, Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM), Lionsgate, IFC Films, Kino Lorber, Cohen Media, Milestone Film and Video, Oscilloscope, Cinema Guild, Strand Releasing, Shout Factory, Film Movement, and Grasshopper Films. Additional licensors will be added in the coming months.

This actually sounds really cool and fun, the idea of watching specific double features, or focused airings, etc. Sort of threading the needle of a Netflix and a TCM.

Will you be getting a subscription, dear reader?

Now PlayStation Has Their Version of Nintendo Direct: State of Play Arrives on Monday!

PlayStation.Blog:

State of Play will give you updates and announcements from the world of PlayStation. Our first episode will showcase upcoming PS4 and PS VR software, including new trailers, new game announcements and new gameplay footage.

Could be cool! I’m a really big fan of the Nintendo Direct format, so I’m all for their competitors matching it.

Today’s Facebook Fuck Up: They Were Storing Passwords in Plain-Text

Brian Krebs at KrebsOnSecurity:

Woof. This absolutely sucks.

Typically, a company stores “hashed" versions of passwords, or passwords which are obscured in a database that the average employee could not decode or use. Apparently not so much for Zuckerberg.

In short, change your WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram passwords, toot sweet.

If I may shill for a second - this is why I use 1Password.

It saves your passwords for you, helps you generate lengthy, more secure passwords, works with browser extensions across your desktop and mobile devices, and even monitors when there are breaches on websites!

LastPass, DashLane and similar do similar things, but 1Password is my favorite. Can’t recommend it more, and no, I’m not being paid for that link. I wholeheartedly believe in it.

JOHN WICK 3: PARABELLUM Trailer #2: John Wick vs. EVERYONE

www.youtube.com/watch

I’m already sold on this one, so I’m not even clicking play - but please, feel free to do so, dear reader.

Polygon: 'Google Stadia Interview: Phil Harrison Answers Our Biggest Questions'

Colin Campbell at Polygon:

In the course of my allotted 30-minute interview with Harrison, I (along with compadre Chris Plante) learned a few things about Google Stadia, a new streaming platform for gaming, that we hadn’t learned at Tuesday’s press briefing.

Really enjoyed this. There are some elements of Stadia which you can tell Harrison isn’t ready to discuss yet, but this did give me more insight as to where things sit so far.

NINTENDO Reveals a Whole Slue of Indie Games For 2019

Nintendo.com:

The biggest, and coolest, of these announcements to me was the surprise Cuphead reveal.

Microsoft bringing its exclusive titles to the Switch. What a weird world this is.

You can watch the full presentation below.

youtu.be/wUnpK23g4…

Robert Pattinson and Elizabeth Debicki Join Christopher Nolan’s Next Movie

Variety:

Nolan recently finished the script for the currently untitled film and Warner Bros. quickly dated it for July 17, 2020 — a slot the studio often reserves for the director, most recently with “Dunkirk.“ Not only was that film a success at the box office, bringing in $526 million worldwide, but it also earned Nolan an Oscar nomination for director, his first in the category.

Debicki is an actress who I’ve really grown to love. Pattinson’s become an incredibly interesting actor post-Twilight. Sounding better and better with each addition.

(I’d assume that Michael Caine gets added any day now.)

BILL & TED 3: August 21, 2020

Fresh from Twitter.

twitter.com/BillandTe…

Let’s see if it’s worth the wait. Fingers crossed.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD Trailer: The 9th Film from Quentin Tarantino

www.youtube.com/watch

Looking good.

STRANGER THINGS Season 3 Trailer: Lets All Go to the Mall

youtu.be/YEG3bmU_W…

Gonna be a very exciting Independence Day.

Christopher Nolan’s New Movie Will Star John David Washington

Variety:

He was fantastic in BlacKkKlansman, so I’m excited to see what he and Nolan cook up.

Google Announces STADIA, a Cloud-Based Gaming Platform

A Look at the Original iPhone Prototype

The Verge:

To achieve that level of secrecy, Apple created special prototype development boards that contained nearly all of the iPhone’s parts, spread out across a large circuit board. The Verge has obtained exclusive access to the original iPhone M68 prototype board from 2006 / 2007, thanks to Red M Sixty, a source that asked to remain anonymous. It’s the first time this board has been pictured publicly, and it provides a rare historical look at an important part of computing history, showing how Apple developed the original iPhone.

This is a really cool, unique piece of tech history.

LUCY IN THE SKY Teaser Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

I am such a sucker for space movies - but when it’s Noah Hawley (Fargo/Legion) behind the camera with that freaking cast?

Hell yeah.

TOY STORY 4 Trailer: What Does It Mean to Be A Toy?

youtu.be/wmiIUN-7q…

The first teaser hinted at it - we’re going deep into toy psychology here.

Bold move from Pixar. Let’s see if it works out this June.

EDIT: With that thumbnail image, you had to know there was a poster coming, right?

The First 3 Phases of the MCU Are now...THE INFINITY SAGA

/Film:

I’m into it!

And I still think SDCC 2019 will be the coming out party for the Phase 4 stuff.

Kotaku: 'Here's What We're Hearing About Google's Plans for Gaming'

Kotaku:

Well, this all sounds really, really cool. Especially the idea of shared game files/multiplayer experiences with streamers.

Find out tomorrow at 10am Pacific if it’s all bullshit!

MySpace Lost All Music Uploaded to It Between 2003-2015

Boing Boing:

A reminder (say it loud for those in the back):

COSMIC HARD BOWL: The Sega Genesis ALIENS vs. PREDATOR Football Game Which Almost Was

National Videogame Museum:

…But this wasn’t just any Alien vs Predator game, this game was an ALIEN VS PREDATOR FOOTBALL GAME!

The game appeared to be called “Cosmic Hard Bowl" and featured the Aliens and Predators settling their long conflict through…American Football. No, we can’t believe it either.

Absolute lunacy.

There are all sorts of details and scans over on the linked page (translated from Japanese), but to answer one key part - this wasn’t a football game with just two teams, Aliens and Predators basically split up into the AFC and the NFC, each with unique city-based teams.

Goddamn I hope there’s a ROM.

Hey, There’s a New iPad Air and iPad Mini Today

Apple Newsroom:

Apple today also introduced the new 7.9-inch iPad mini, a major upgrade for iPad mini fans who love a compact, ultra-portable design packed with the latest technology. With the A12 Bionic chip, the new iPad mini is a powerful multi-tasking machine, delivering three times the performance and nine times faster graphics. The advanced Retina display with True Tone technology and wide color support is 25 percent brighter and has the highest pixel density of any iPad, delivering an immersive visual experience in any setting. And with Apple Pencil support, the new iPad mini is the perfect take-anywhere notepad for sketching and jotting down thoughts on the go. The new iPads are available to order starting today and in stores next week.

You can get the new 10.5 Inch iPad Air here, and the new iPad Mini here.

And now you’re probably asking yourself: what do I need - an iPad Pro, or the 10.5 inch iPad Air?

Wait, Ezra Miller and GRANT FREAKING MORRISON Are Writing the Script for THE FLASH, Now!?!

The Hollywood Reporter:

Miller is taking a stab at writing the script for the Warner Bros. project, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. He has teamed up with Grant Morrison, the acclaimed comics author, to pen a draft that could determine if he stays on as star, playing crimefighter Barry Allen.

What a surreal mess this could be!

I love Morrison’s work, quite a bit…but it depends if we get “mainstream fun" Grant or “all superheroes are totems and MAGIC IS REAL" Grant.

JAMES GUNN is BACK for GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3

Deadline:

Sometimes, just sometimes, the good guys win. Great news for a Friday!

Hello Games Announces Online Gaming as a Part of NO MAN’S SKY: BEYOND

youtu.be/5ILqZ9mI2…

Hello Games/NoMansSky.com:

We know that there is a lot of hunger out there for news and updates on No Man’s Sky. We wanted to share some information from behind the scenes.

Our next chapter will be called No Man’s Sky: Beyond, coming Summer 2019.

Each chapter for No Man’s Sky has been more successful than the last. Thanks to our community, NEXT our large release last year was especially so. It went on to bring enjoyment to millions of new players, and it helped to change the legacy of this game we care so much about.

Earlier this year, whilst working on our roadmap of three future updates, we decided we wanted to interweave their features, and had a vision for something much more impactful.

We are excited to announce that Beyond will contain those three major updates rolled into one larger free release.

The first component of Beyond we are announcing today is No Man’s Sky Online.

I have to give Hello Games credit — they continue to work hard to deliver on the original vision of No Man’s Sky.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Sports Illustrated Rounds Up The New MLB Stadium Menu Additions

Sports Illustrated:

If you’re tired of the traditional hot dog, fret not, as stadiums across the MLB are stepping up their game and bringing unique choices to fans. So whether you want the traditional hot dog and beer, or are craving something more daring, there will be options for everyone.

There are a lot of Hot Dog options listed here, but the real, uh, “winner"?

The Texas Rangers will be bringing us “The Fowl Pole", described as such:

Yep. Just one big-ass tender. What a world.

Seth Rogen (Yes, Seth Rogen) Dates Charlize Theron in LONG SHOT

youtu.be/jTdr445vn…

This one is a red-band trailer, so FYI for language - Long Shot looks like a gender-swapped Pretty Woman by way of The American President.

I think this could be a big hit for the Summer.

Apple’s WWDC 2019 Conference Set For June 3-7

Apple Newsroom:

Here comes iOS 13, macOS 10.15, all the fun stuff.

Fingers crossed for new iPad-focused functionality updates and iOS Dark Mode!

LEFT 4 DEAD Developers Are BACK 4 BLOOD

Turtle Rock Games/WB:

HELL YES!

PILLS HERE!

It’s All Come to This: New AVENGERS: ENDGAME Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

This is mostly a look back at the past eleven years of the MCU here, with some bits of new footage and dialogue in the mix, so those who are worried about spoilers - rest easy, this trailer is more about the tease and excitement than anything else.

That said - damn thing still gave me goosebumps by the end.

43 days to go.

EDIT: Here’s a Poster, too. Errybody’s here.

Dope New CORNETTO TRILOGY Posters From Mondo

SHANG CHI to Enter the MCU, and He’s Got a Director

Deadline:

This is in keeping with the studio’s goal to take Shang-Chi in a direction like Black Panther and populate it with Asian-American talent. When Deadline first revealed the project late last year, the studio had set Chinese-American scribe Dave Callaham to write the screenplay.

Man, Shang-Chi is going to be a hard needle to thread here. I do not envy their attempt to make the character something beyond a Bruce Lee-rip-off.

If they nail it though? That’s another hero for an under-served section of fandom.

So, Uh - SONY Might Acquire TAKE-TWO INTERACTIVE?

Buried in this MarketWatch article about the US Stock Market:

So, that’d mean Sony would own:

This would be absolutely insane.

Edit: Probably not a real thing that’s happening.

Fandango is Hosting Early-Access Screenings of SHAZAM

Fandango:

That’s right – on March 23, you can be among the very first to see Shazam! when Fandango brings the latest DC Comics movie to theaters nationwide for one day only prior to its official April 5 release.

Grab yourself some tickets here.

Me? I’ve been burned by DCEU movies and I have AMC A-List. I’ll be going in April.

CARD SHARKS and PRESS YOUR LUCK to Return on ABC

Vulture:

Guys, I love game shows. So long as they don’t get a randomly poorly cast celebrity as host (looking at you, Michael Strahan on Pyramid), this could be good.

SOLAR ASH KINGDOM: the New Game From the Creators of HYPER LIGHT DRIFTER

www.youtube.com/watch

Hyper Light Drifter ruled and this looks dope too. Hell yeah!

ROLANDO Returns to iOS With A Remastered Edition

MacStories:

Today though, Rolando’s developer, HandCircus, announced that Rolando is coming back on April 4th as Rolando: Royal Edition.

Far too many games went away with the switch from 32-bit to 64-bit. Hopefully more can come back to life.

You can pre-order Rolando: Royal Edition, as I have, here.

Fangamer Brings HOLLOW KNIGHT Physical & Collector's Editions to Life

Fangamer:

The Collector’s Edition includes:

I know a lot of people ADORE this game, so this is sure to make those folks very pleased.

You can buy the Standard edition here too.

Marvel Studios to Produce WHAT IF? TV Series for Disney+

/Film:

Holy shit, this is an incredible idea! Why did I never think of it?

Dark Horse Bringing THE ART OF SUPER MARIO ODYSSEY to the States in October

Polygon:

Dark Horse’s release of The Art of Super Mario Odyssey will be a 368-page hardcover book full of “concept art, preliminary sketches, and notes from the development team, plus insight into some early ideas that didn’t make it into the game itself,“ according to a release from the publisher. The art book will also contain screenshots and marketing materials from Super Mario Odyssey.

You can pre-order shortly via Amazon.

It’s A Live-Action World Now: Disney’s ALADDIN Trailer

youtu.be/foyufD52a…

I’m not feeling it, dog.

Update: We’ve got a new poster, too. Given that this is a big Photoshop collage, I assume that this is the final poster.

'Bill Hader Kills'

The New Yorker:

Loved this profile of Bill Hader, just ahead of Barry’s second season.

Mondo: 'New JURASSIC PARK Poster, Pins & Tee!'

Mondo:

Additionally, we also have two new pins designed by the most excellent Scott C. based on the traitorous computer programmer, Dennis Nedry, and the dilophosaurus he’s probably not too excited to meet. We’re huge fans of Scott and are thrilled with his work on these pins. 

Finally, we’ll have a new T-Shirt 65 million years in the making. Inspired by InGen’s tourist-friendly explanation of how they recreated dinosaurs to exist our modern world. This T-Shirt features our favorite anthropomorphic DNA helix, “Mr. DNA” printed over the chest on the front while the back features the expanded blueprint of a brontosaurus.

Guys. That shirt rules so hard!

Mark Your Calendars, Nerds - Apple Set Next Media Event for March 25

MacRumors:

The event features the tagline “It’s Show Time,” which is in line with rumors suggesting it will focus on services rather than hardware. Apple is expected to use the event to unveil its rumored Apple News service and a streaming TV service.

Bring it on, Tim.

Mike Judge Signs Overall Deal with HBO

Variety:

The deal encompasses all forms of television except for animation. Under the new deal, Judge has set up two new comedy series projects at HBO, both of which have received production commitments.

The first project is titled “QualityLand,“ based on the novel of the same name by Marc Uwe-King. The official description reads: “QualityLand is the very near future. It’s everything we have now, and more so. It’s the story of humanity’s struggle against the tyranny of convenience. But funny.“

Mike Judge and Josh Lieb serve as writers and executive producers, with Michael Rotenberg of 3 Arts Entertainment also executive producing. The series is a co-production between HBO, and Lionsgate/3 Arts.

The other project is a limited series titled “A5.“ It is centered on a bioengineer who discovers the gene that makes a person an a—hole and attempts to answer the questions nagging at all of us: Why do a—holes exist? Why have they come to dominate our culture? And can they be cured?

Judge and Etan Cohen will write and executive produce with Rotenberg also executive producing.

Sounds like two great shows which continue to mill the vein which Judge made work so great in Silicon Valley, Office Space, and Idiocracy.

Taika Waititi to Relaunch TIME BANDITS for Apple

Variety:

The “Thor: Ragnarok" director is set to helm Apple’s TV adaptation of Terry Gilliam’s 1981 fantasy flick “Time Bandits,“ which is currently in development.

This is insane news! SO cool.

Tom Holland To Re-Team With the Russo Brothers for CHERRY

Variety:

So, what’s Cherry?

It’s a novel by Nico Walker. Here’s the synopsis:

The outcome will not be good for either of them.

As a medic in Iraq, he is unprepared for the realties that await him. He and his fellow soldiers huff computer duster, abuse painkillers, and watch porn. Many of them die. When he comes home, his PTSD is profound. As the opioid crisis sweeps through the Midwest, it drags both him and Emily along with it. As their addictions worsen, and with their money drying up, he stumbles onto what seems like the only possible solution—robbing banks.

Sounds incredibly depressing and decidedly un-Marvel, doesn’t it? Time for Holland to stretch those acting muscles!

Amazon’s $13 Million Dollar Baby: LATE NIGHT Trailer

youtu.be/DxefiCjQi…

This movie set a Sundance record for a movie purchase, now to see if it delivers.

Personally, I really like Mindy Kaling, I like Emma Thompson, I think the Late Night talk show world is under-explored in movies, so let’s go for it!

A Tale of Two Foul-Mouthed Coming-of-Age Movies: BOOKSMART and GOOD BOYS Movies

Weird that both of these hit today, but here we are.

Booksmart is Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut, and seems to posit “What if Superbad, but Teenage Girls?“

To the same regard, we have a red-band trailer for Good Boys today, and that’s a Seth Rogen/Evan Goldberg going which seems to ask “What if Superbad, but 6th Graders?“

Neither looks bad (I’m game to see either, but I think Booksmart looks better, but it’s just very weird that both hit on the same day.

youtu.be/tX2MvB0ky…

youtu.be/rF1F9dIbN…

Thankfully, their releases are spread out more - Booksmart hits on May 24th, with Good Boys arriving August 16th.

Niantic Takes the Invisibility Cloak Off of HARRY POTTER: WIZARDS UNITE

WizardsUnite.com:

So, much like PokÁ©mon GO, Wizards Unite is Ingress…but with wizards. I will give them props for going more stylized with the look and feel.

Eurogamer has a pretty in-depth hands on here.

They gonna make all the money.

Captain Marvel (2019): A Review

The opening of the twenty-first installment of Marvel Studios ever growing universe is, in a series which constantly redefines “something I never thought I’d see rendered on film", something I never thought I’d saw on film.

After a brief credits sequence — including a very classy tribute to the late Stan Lee — directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, previously best known for the Ryan-Gossling-is-a-subsitute-teacher flick Full Nelson, toss us knee deep into the world of the Kree/Skrull War.

The Kree/Skrull War was always the deepest of deep nerd stuff. Set in the far off cosmic reaches of the Marvel Universe, it was the ongoing war between two races - the heroic Kree, and the shady, shapeshifting Skrulls. And yet here we are. It’s the focus of a $175 Million Dollar movie. And more than that, it’s the heroic on-screen debut of 1970’s also-ran turned modern day lead heroine, Captain Marvel.

Finally, Marvel has a strong lead female hero of their own, just twenty movies in, but as we know her at the start, she’s a spunky amnesic named Vers (Oscar winner Brie Larson), sparring with her fellow Kree, the wise and enigmatic Yon-Rogg, the leader of her troupe of soldiers.

Vers is looking to become a proper Kree warrior, and she’s about to embark on her first mission against the Skrulls. It’s a mission full of familiar faces from the Guardians of the Galaxy world (no, not those faces, think more obscure), but it’s also a mission which goes terribly wrong, and results in Vers…along with some pesky Skrulls, ending up on Earth, circa 1995.

How convenient it is then that Vers seems to have some connection to her planet — one which might help her restore her memory, and maybe even become a hero along the way.

Yes, we all know where this is going, it’s the Marvel Cinematic Universe for goodness sake! But what’s unique about Captain Marvel isn’t necessarily the destination, but the journey.

Captain Marvel is somehow equally a Hero’s Journey film, a smart-assed detective adventure (as Vers links up with a younger, two-eyed Nick Fury), and also an interstellar war film, all in one. And if that wasn’t enough, it also loves the 1990s.

It’s a delicate balancing act. One which is on less sturdy ground than past MCU films, but if you can get down to the idea of an action sequence set to No Doubt’s “Just a Girl", and love yourself some adorable cats, Captain Marvel is the flick for you.

Performances are, as usual for a Marvel Studios flick, pretty damn solid, a mixture of beloved character actors and relative unknowns. Ben Mendelsohn chews up scenery as the lead Skrull baddie, Talos - though he’s more than meets the eye. Samuel L. Jackson is as game as always as Nick Fury - though he seems to sink his teeth into this one particularly hard, playing opposite real-life pal Brie Larson. The CG work to de-age him is downright incredible, and is also used in a lesser degree to give us the return of Clark Gregg’s Agent Coulson, who basically is there to remind us how much Agents of SHIELD wastes him on a weekly basis.

The surprise standout of the movie is Lashana Lynch, playing Maria Rambeau, an ex-fighter pilot with a connection to Vers’ past, but it should come as no surprise that the movie lives and dies by the work of Brie Larson.

Larson has, for some reason — perhaps because of her wonderfully outspoken nature? — become a lightning rod for Internet turd criticism, but I think she’s absolutely wonderful in the lead here. She is a tour de force here, acting with humor and grace when the story allows, while also maintaining a quiet strength, important as she pieces herself together before her eyes.

Someone much smarter than I will get to write the essay of a lifetime about Vers in Captain Marvel, and how her role speaks to the struggles of many women. All I know is, she is every inch the hero the film needs, never saying die, and defying the odds before our eyes.

Yes, Marvel took forever to get a female hero out of the gate. But the fact is this - she’s here, she’s strong, she’s absolutely awesome. Captain Marvel will live alongside Wonder Woman in the lexicon of strong female role models, and now, she’s got a galaxy-spanning adventure worthy of her on the big screen.

Captain Marvel is in theaters now.

Nine Inch Nails and Marvel Collaborate on a Captain Marvel Shirt?

NIN Store:

Makes a lot of sense. It’s in white too, if you’d rather order that one.

So, Who Else Is Supposed to Make Up THE SUICIDE SQUAD?

Collider:

Ratcatcher, aka Otis Flannegan, is a man in the DC comics, though Collider has learned that the character will be gender-swapped and played by a woman in The Suicide Squad. Ratcatcher is is a super-criminal and one of Batman’s many enemies. She started out as an exterminator in Gotham City before turning to a life of crime, aided by an army of small rodents she can communicate with and control. She’s also a fan of poisonous gas.

Nanaue, aka King Shark, is a super-villain and humanoid shark whose father is believed to be the so-called Shark God, though others dismiss him as merely a savage mutation.

Polka-Dot Man, aka Mister Polka Dot, is a Gotham City super-villain and like Ratcatcher, a sworn enemy of Batman. He grows multi-colored polka dots on his body that he can turn into fireballs and other weapons, even though, for the most part, he’s embarrassed about his awkward abilities.

Peacemaker, aka Christopher Smith, is an agent of peace whose motives are driven by an extremist form of pacifism that makes him love peace so much he would kill for it.

Sounds like a crazy bunch to have in the flick!

Per Collider, Dave Bautista is in the running for Peacemaker.

I’m really wondering how they’ll pull off King Shark.

Disney+ to Host the ENTIRE Disney Film Catalog

/Film:

Say Goodbye to the Vault, and Say Hello to a Subscription from Every Family in the World.

'Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to Open May 31 at Disneyland Resort, August 29 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios'

Disney Parks Blog:

Start your vacation planning, nerds.

Nintendo Goes VR! In Cardboard Form.

Nintendo:

The Starter Set + Blaster kit provides an action-packed introduction to the experience. You can then add to the fun with the Expansion Sets. Or, if you want an even broader experience right away, you can purchase the full Nintendo Labo VR Kit, which features six VR Toy-Con projects in one package.

I guess Nintendo Labo must’ve done well enough to allow for this expansion.

Idris Elba in Talks to Be Replacement Deadshot in THE SUICIDE SQUAD

The Hollywood Reporter:

The move follows last week’s exit of Smith, who along with Margot Robbie, led the ensemble of the 2016 movie, and played assassin anti-hero Deadshot.

I’m for it.

Apple is Now in the Brie Larson Business

Variety:

The untitled series is based on the real life experiences of CIA undercover operative Amaryllis Fox and her upcoming memoir, “Life Undercover: Coming of Age in the CIA,“ which will be published by Knopf on Oct. 15. The series is described as a look at a young woman’s (Larson) journey in the CIA, told through the prism of her closest relationships.

God bless every website which avoids an “Apple & Brie is a great pairing!“ joke.

The Future of Facebook is…Private and Ephemeral?

TechCrunch:

I’ll believe it when I see it. Still looking for those data wiping tools, Zuck.

What if Superman, But Bad? BRIGHTBURN Trailer #2

youtu.be/oD1vbhicJ…

I know its unrelated, but the plot of Brightburn makes me think of my favorite description of Black Mirror: “What if phones, but too much?“

Mike Schur Signs a Long-Term Deal with NBC

Vulture:

Between The Good Place, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Parks and Recreation and The Office, Schur has conquered my TV viewing over the past decade or so.

Keep it coming, Mike. Keep it coming.

Holy Crap, BRIAN K. VAUGHAN is Going to Write the GUNDAM Movie

Deadline:

Hell and yes.

Do You Really Like SHORTCUTS? Have I Got The Site For You, iOS Nerds

MacStories:

Since the original release of Workflow in 2014, we’ve created hundreds of automations to help readers use their iOS devices more efficiently. The goal of this archive is to offer a complete catalogue of our old workflows as well as new custom shortcuts for Apple’s Shortcuts app.

Each shortcut in this archive has been created, updated, and tested by Federico and the MacStories team. Shortcuts are organized in categories, and you can jump directly to a specific category by using one of the section links below.

This is a Shortcuts user’s dream.

(I actually have a custom Shortcut I use for blogging!)

It’s the End of the World as We Know It: GOOD OMENS Trailer

youtu.be/hUJoR4vlI…

Goddamn this looks fun.

NORTH BY NORTHWEST x INCEPTION: The New Christopher Nolan Movie

twitter.com/prodweek/…

OK, so this is much adieu about a tweet, but Production Weekly knows their stuff.

However, Production Weekly is also a subscription-only service for people in the industry. So I can’t share more with you beyond this, as I have no need for a $59 subscription in my life for one story.

But!

North by Northwest is one of the greatest movies ever made.

Inception is probably my second(?) favorite Christopher Nolan movie.

Hoyte van Hoytema is an incredible cinematographer, who also worked with Nolan on Interstellar and Dunkirk.

This has serious promise.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Heinz Continues to Mix Sauces with Mayo and Sell Them To You, You Imbeciles

The GAME OF THRONES Season 8 Trailer is Here

www.youtube.com/watch

I’m not watching it, but, hey, you can!

Let's Talk About that SONIC THE HEDGEHOG Movie Leak

The Director of HEREDITARY is Back, with MIDSOMMAR

www.youtube.com/watch

Pretty cool how Ari Aster is just jumping head first into making movies here. Normally directors take a year or two off. This guy, though? Just keeps working. I respect that.

And yeah, I still really need to watch Hereditary.

SHAZAM Trailer #2: It’s Like BIG, But a Superhero Movie

www.youtube.com/watch

Still looks really fun to me, but I may be biased because I loved Chuck so much.

'I Wish More TV Shows Ran for Just One Season'

BuzzFeed News:

I couldn’t agree more.

This is how I felt about Stranger Things. I dug Season 2, and I’m looking forward to 3, but just one would’ve been fine.

'How Disney Built Star Wars, in Real Life'

TechCrunch:

Missed this in the deluge of articles about Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge over the last few days. This is a really great look at the Herculean effort put forth to bring this all to life.

An Amazing Cast Assembles for a New, Animated SCOOBY-DOO Movie

The Hollywood Reporter :

The actors have closed deals to voice star in the untitled Scooby-Doo animated movie being made by Warner Bros. and its Warner Animation Group division.

I love all three of those guys! But who are they playing?

…wait what…

OH HELLS YEAH

Finn Wolfhard and Carrie Coon Approached for New GHOSTBUSTERS

Variety:

Jason Reitman is directing the pic and has also co-written a screenplay with Gil Kenan. He plans to shoot the film this summer, with Sony planning to release the latest sequel in summer 2020.

The studio would not comment on plot details, but sources say the story will focus on a single mom and her family, with Coon playing the mom and Wolfhard playing her son. It’s currently unknown how that will connect to the new Ghostbusters team.

So, Stranger Things-vibes confirmed.

I didn’t know that Gil Kenan was involved. His film Monster House is terribly underrated.

Elisabeth Moss In Talks to Lead INVISIBLE MAN Reboot

Bad Robot Gets Into the del Toro Business with ZANBATO

It's Time To Live, Die, Repeat Again: EDGE OF TOMORROW 2 in Development

HELLBOY Red-Band Trailer: Hey, It's Better Than The Previous One

Hey, That Affordable Tesla Is Here!

Jalopnik:

Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced the bottom-dollar Model 3 today, along with the Model Y crossover.

About time!

Lord Help Me, I Can’t Stop Watching JEOPARDY

I don’t know about you, but I really enjoy game shows.

Especially with the way the world is today, there’s something absolutely captivating about the stable-yet-sterile world of these shows.

Family Feud, Wheel of Fortune, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, the list goes on - but the fact remains that if the episode isn’t that old, the show feels always of the moment yet completely timeless.

The outside world never seems to effect it - except perhaps for the questions asked and answers shared - the world of the game show is in a gloriously excited bubble. The only worry is if you can get the questions right and get to the final round.

With Jeopardy though, I’ve found particular solace as of late.

Alex Trebek - though kind of a dick - is always a steady hand, guiding the show and its categories like a well-oiled machine, versus the controlled chaos of Steve Harvey on Feud, the somehow-still-figuring-out-the-show-all-these-years-in nature of Drew Carey as a Price is Right host, and whatever weirdness Pat Sajak has evolved into over the years.

The questions - always broad enough to keep the average viewers interest, but detailed and obscure enough to make rubes like me watching at home convinced I’m smarter for doing so.

The format is always straight forward - three rounds: easier to start, harder in the middle, and one son-of-a-bitch at the end.

The contestants? Pretty boilerplate, mostly forgettable, until someone does something remarkable and gets on a history making run - one that makes cult heroes of people such as Ken Jennings, Austin Rogers, Buzzy Cohen, or Matt Jackson.

It’s an educational chicken soup, fed in a high-def, brilliantly lit game show candy coating. It soothes my nerves, sands off the rough edges of the day, and makes me feel comfortable.

Lately, I’ve been doubling down even more. My local affiliate (Baltimore’s WBFF Fox 45) airs it at 7:30pm, but now I can watch it any time, with seasons’ of past special events available to watch any time, any where, via Hulu and Netflix.

I recognize, I could be binge watching the shows everyone won’t stop talking about - Russian Doll, Maniac, Castle Rock - but instead, I find myself launching that unforgettable theme and getting caught up in the drama of man versus man versus giant question board.

That is Jeopardy. And I can’t get enough.

Going Back to Default

Over the past week or so, I’ve been making a pretty big reconsideration of what I do with my personal tech setup.

For the longest time, I’ve been a person who chases the coolest, newest, most unique, most feature driven, most “tweakable" version of my apps. I read websites on it. I read others user diaries about it.

But being a part of an ecosystem in Apple where, well, things “just work" — so long as you use their version of applications — using third-party versions of apps usually means you then need even more special apps which help you redirect things accordingly.

And then I had a moment. I asked myself - why am I doing this?

Inspired by a write up (from one of those very same sites) by Frederico Viticci, I realized, it’s just easier to commit to the default.

What is so important about having every single option, every single tweak available to me?

So I started making those changes this week.

Back from Bear to Notes. From Fantastical to Calendar. From Overcast to Podcasts. It goes on and on. Sure, I’m holding on to some. (You’ll never take Ulysses away from me!) But the rest of them? Farewell. Even my beloved TweetBot.

Everything feels a little…easier. A little lighter. A little less stressful.

I Marie Kondo’d the crap out of my technical life.

And it’s just better for it.

Amazon's Plan for Environmental Sustainability? You get all your boxes at the same time.

Disney Unveils STAR WARS: GALAXY’S EDGE

Overnight, Disney finally took the wraps off of their long-awaited Star Wars-themed expansion of their parks, titled Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

There are four articles over at StarWars.com breaking it all down. I’m adding them to my Instapaper queue to read over the course of the day, but I thought I’d share them here for like-minded folks.

Enjoy and embrace the hype.

DARK PHOENIX Trailer #2: Yep, We’re Doing This

www.youtube.com/watch

I still can’t believe how much of X-Men 3: The Last Stand we’re running back here.

Sure, it’s like “It’s Mystique now, instead of Xavier!“ and “It’s a train now, not a van!“, but…geez.

Have a poster, while you’re at it.

NBC Books BROOKLYN NINE-NINE for a 7th Season

Vulture:

NINE NINE

MGM Moving Forward with a, uh, VIEW-MASTER Movie?

Facebook Wants to Take On Patreon. Unsurprisingly, Their Version Sucks.

Welcome Pokemon Sword & Pokemon Shield

youtu.be/BdA22Lh6R…

As promised, today brought the latest Nintendo Direct, focusing on the new Switch exclusive traditional Pokemon game - coming to us as Pokemon Sword & Pokemon Shield.

Click play and get ready to see your new starters and get way hyped.

Grey Matter Art Releasing a Dope SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE Print on February 28th

Topher Grace Cuts Together the ENTIRE STAR WARS Saga into One Lengthy Trailer

Meet Baptiste, the New OVERWATCH Support Hero!

Goddamnit, DETECTIVE PIKACHU Continues to Look Like a Good Movie

A Pokemon Focused Nintendo Direct Hits Tomorrow

THE LION KING Remake Continues to Stun in New Teaser

From the Oscars last night…

youtu.be/aQN75AKDw…

Looks amazing. I do hope they show us something with voice acting soon.

Oh, there’s a new poster, too!

Everyone’s Coming Back for A QUIET PLACE 2 in 2020

Deadline:

We hear production will begin in July on the film produced by Brad Fuller and Andrew Form.

We also hear that Emily Blunt’s deal for the sequel is closed. Blunt recently won a Screen Actors Guild best supporting actress award for her turn in the film. Today on Instagram Krasinski announced the sequel’s release date: May 15, 2020.

I still don’t know what well there is to go back to in the Quiet-verse (and I loved the original!), but at least all the right pieces are set.

Here Comes Full-Color USAGI YOJIMBO

The New York Times:

IDW Publishing is also planning a series of full-colored collected editions of the complete Usagi saga, which began in 1984. The series had been at Dark Horse Comics since 1995 and was primarily printed in black-and-white.

I knew waiting on those digital omnibuses would pay off eventually! Hell yes. Sakai is a gem of a creator and human being.

A Proper Trailer for Jordan Peele’s THE TWILIGHT ZONE

https://youtu.be/29_gA_GDGvE

Again: Looks dope. But I am not paying for CBS All-Access.

Reggie Fils-Aime to Retire from Nintendo

Aw Crap, HELLBOY's Fighting Luchadores Again

SATURDAY NIGHT'S ALRIGHT FOR...Seeing This Movie: New ROCKETMAN Trailer

#FastFoodArmsRace: ROBOCOP is Colonel Sanders Now

Thor to Play Hulk Hogan for Netflix, Brother!

The Hollywood Reporter:

Surreal.

Sadly, this is apparently not supposed to touch on any of the interesting phases of Hogan’s life, such as his 90’s bad guy run, or the sex tape scandal/suing of Gawker.

Also weird? This is being produced by Eric Bischoff.

AW SHIT! The Lonely Island Are Going on Their First Ever Tour!

Apple Looking to Combine iPhone, iPad and Mac Apps By 2021

Bloomberg:

The ultimate goal of the multistep initiative, code-named “Marzipan,“ is by 2021 to help developers build an app once and have it work on the iPhone, iPad and Mac computers, said people familiar with the effort. That should spur the creation of new software, increasing the utility of the company’s gadgets.

Sounds dope to me!

#FastFoodArmsRace: Cookie Puss Is Back, in Beer Form

Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.:

Oh, that I liked beer.

THE BANANA SPLITS To Return…As A Horror Franchise?

ComingSoon:

In the upcoming horror thriller, a boy named Harley and his family (brother Austin, mother Beth and father Mitch) attend a taping of The Banana Splits TV show, which is supposed to be a fun-filled birthday for young Harley and business as usual for Rebecca, the producer of the series. But things take an unexpected turn — and the body count quickly rises. Can Harley, his mom and their new pals safely escape?

I’m not wrong, that’s basically the plot of Five Nights at Freddie’s, right?

Pixar’s Latest SparkShort - KITBULL

www.youtube.com/watch

Get ready to cry happy tears at this one.

Love to see Pixar experimenting in 2D!

www.youtube.com/watch

www.youtube.com/watch

Enjoy!

COSTUME QUEST Comes to Amazon Prime Video March 8th

youtu.be/cH9NpXee9…

My wife and I love both Costume Quest games, so to say we’re excited for this is an understatement.

I wonder why this is coming out in March instead of around Halloween, though?

Netflix Cancels THE PUNISHER & JESSICA JONES, Leaving It No Marvel Shows

Deadline:

As the only two series from the TV arm of the comic giant still left on the streamer, there will be no Season 3 of the Jon Bernthal led vigilante series, I’ve learned. The completed third season of the Krysten Ritter starring Jessica Jones will still appear on the streamer but will be put on ice for good after that.

I guess this really isn’t a surprise, given that Disney is launching Disney+, and making more shows on Hulu featuring Marvel characters….but it’s interesting that Jeph Loeb’s letter to fans basically blames Netflix?

Samsung to Stop Producing Blu-Ray Players

CNET:

Samsung has elaborated on an earlier report that it was no longer making 4K players and has confirmed that it will also halt production on new 1080p models.

“Samsung will no longer introduce new Blu-ray or 4K Blu-ray player models in the US market,” a Samsung spokesperson told CNET.

I’ve gone digital with my media (books and comics included), but this feels like kind of a sad end of an era.

Smash cut to 10 years from now where “retro" blu-rays are the hottest thing going.

DC Comics Creates A Toy Line Which I’ve Never Felt More Targeted For

DC Comics:

Guess I need to clear off some shelf space.

I sure hope Ramon Villalobos is getting some cash off of these.

Now You Don’t Even Need Paper to Play Pictionary

Engadget:

Instead of a regular pen or pencil, players use a jumbo-sized light up pen to doodle their word in thin air, and their drawing is simultaneously cast to a mobile or TV screen using Chromecast or AirPlay – it doesn’t require any data use once downloaded, either. All the other components of the game remain the same, although you can video the artist in action and share drawings with friends on social, too, making it a cool spin on a classic game that’ll keep it appealing for a long while yet. It’ll be on the shelves in Target from June 1st and other retailers globally by July 1st, on sale for $20/£15.

Me thinks I need to try this out with the Super Art Fight crew.

'The FTC and Facebook Are Negotiating a Record, Multibillion-Dollar Fine for the Company’s Privacy Lapses'

The Washington Post:

This is, and should just be, the beginning.

'Nickelodeon Will Revive All That’ With Kenan Thompson as EP'

Variety:

Nickelodeon will revive the program — a “Saturday Night Live" for the tween set — with an all-new cast. But the show will have callbacks to its past as well. Kenan Thompson, the long-running “SNL" cast member who got his start on television when “All That" launched in 1994, will serve as an executive producer. Nickelodeon expects some former cast members to make appearances in the series.

Perfect! There are actually some All That sketches which hold up. Look forward to a new generation of kids getting their own sketch show.

Amazon Cancels HQ2 Plans in New York

Amazon Blog:

Wow. That’s crazy.

Will other cities jump in to be the replacement? Stay tuned.

CONAN THE BARBARIAN to Join Marvel’s SAVAGE AVENGERS

EW.com

Surreal.

Team Cherry Reveals HOLLOW KNIGHT Sequel, HOLLOW KNIGHT: SILKSONG

youtu.be/pFAknD_9U…

Team Cherry:

Hollow Knight: Silksong is the second game by Team Cherry (that’s us!) and the full-scale sequel to Hollow Knight.

Looks good!

I really need to finish the first.

'NASA's Record-Setting Opportunity Rover Mission on Mars Comes to End'

NASA:

Meant for 90 days, lasted 15 years.

Godspeed, Lil’ Rover.

Nintendo Direct February 2019: MARIO, and YOSHI, and ZELDA, OH MY!

Nintendo Pr:

Yeah, I’m gonna be real broke this year. Thank goodness Tetris 99 is free.

Check out the full Direct below.

youtu.be/SCME2yPJK…

The BREAKING BAD Movie is Coming To Netflix

The Hollywood Reporter:

Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that the feature-length movie will be a sequel revolving around Aaron Paul, who will reprise his Emmy-winning role as Jesse Pinkman. Sources also confirm that Netflix will have first-run rights to the top-secret project, which will then air on AMC. (Representatives for AMC, Netflix and producers Sony Pictures TV all declined to comment.)

Wild - going from streaming to cable.

The BATMAN/TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Crossover To Become An Animated Movie

SyFy Wire:

This spring, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Home Entertainment are teaming up with DC Entertainment and Nickelodeon for Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, an all-new animated movie that unites everyone’s favorite turtles with the Caped Crusader for the first time outside of the comics page. Based on the Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics miniseries by James Tynion IV and Freddie Williams II, the film will see the turtles meeting Batman via a transdimensional encounter, and feature our heroes teaming up to face Batman’s deadly rogues gallery.

Nice!

How have the most recent DC Animated movies been, anyway? I heard bad things about Batman/Harley Quinn, but I’ve wondered if they’ve improved since.

Kyle Starks’ KILL THEM ALL Optioned By Paramount

Variety:

The story, first published in 2015, centers on a betrayed murderess seeking revenge who partners up with a hard drinking former cop wants his job back. They have to fight their way through 15 floors of criminals, assassins, drug lords, murderers, and accountants in a Miami high rise. Elizabeth Raposo and Jon Gonda will oversee the project for Paramount.

Hey! I KickStarted that book!

Very excited for Mr. Starks. I recommend you check out both Kill Them All and Sexcastle.

The FROZEN 2 Teaser Has Arrived

youtu.be/eSLe4HuKu…

Emphasis on the teaser.

This is going to make all the money.

BURNOUT Is Revived as DANGEROUS DRIVING Hits This April

IGN:

It will be available digitally on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC (via the Epic Games Store) for $30 USD/£25. A physical version, which bundles in Three Fields' Danger Zone 2, will be available for $40 USD/£30.

All in for this! Burnout 3: Takedown and Burnout Revenge are my favorite racing games ever. Burnout Paradise lost me with the whole open-world aspect, but I’m in for this.

’Activision Blizzard cuts hundreds of jobs despite record revenue’ year’

Polygon:

The news comes from Activision Blizzard’s fourth-quarter earnings call with investors today. Those affect by the layoffs were described as being in “non-development roles" on the earnings call by Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick, who said the company will still continue to scale up development-focused positions.

Fuck right off, Activision.

This process makes me sick. I recognize that business isn’t something where people are being altruistic, but I don’t understand how higher than ever revenue results in massive layoffs. Especially when they give a dude a $15 Million sweetener to join the company.

Lord & Miller To Bring Us…THE LAST HUMAN

Deadline:

Sources said the upfront commitment is eight-figures — I’m hearing as high as $15 million — and that between directing and producing, Lord and Miller will each get a double-digit back end. This auction got that hot. It’s easily going to be the biggest deal of the new year when it’s all papered. The film will be made through Sony’s TriStar label, with Hannah Minghella overseeing.

Pic is based on an upcoming children’s book of the same name by Lee Bacon. Shazam scribe Henry Gayden is writing a film that is set after a robot apocalypse and follows a 12-year-old robot who bonds with a 12-year-old human who has lived in an underground bunker. Pic is eyed as a “reverse ET, in which three robots discover and protect a human child". Pic will be Lord & Miller’s next film after they finish Artemis at Fox. The book will be published in October by Amulet Books.

As always: If It’s Lord & Miller — I’ll See It!â„¢

McFarlane Toys to Produce DC Comics Collectibles Starting in 2020

IGN:

McFarlane Toys has entered a three-year licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Consumer products to produce collectibles based on the DC Multiverse.

Starting in 2020, McFarlane Toys will begin releasing 6"-12" ultra-posable action figures based on characters from DC’s stable of characters from comics, movies, and video games - along with corresponding vehicles and accessories.

As a survivor of the 90’s comic wars, this is incredibly surreal.

'Inside Story of How Legendary NFL Broadcaster Bob Costas Ended Up Excised From Football and Out at NBC'

Outside The Lines/ESPN:

Fascinating read, both on the struggle of sports coverage in the face of modern knowledge, and how a decades long professional relationships can suffer because of it.

Never had much to say about Bob Costas prior to reading this - now he has my full respect.

Amazon to Acquire Eero

Amazon PR:

So, uh, who actually wants all their web traffic to go through Amazon?

A New MONDO GHOSTBUSTERS Collection Drops Tomorrow!

Mondo:

Awesome work as always.

SMASH AND GRAB, The Second Pixar SparkShort

www.youtube.com/watch

www.youtube.com/watch

www.youtube.com/watch

Pixar, please keep doing these forever.

THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY Heads To Hulu

ComingSoon:

That’s a hell of a duo to bring about the long-awaited adaptation of that novel. Let’s see if they can pull it off.

HULU Reveals a First-Look at George Clooney’s CATCH 22

www.youtube.com/watch

I had to read this in High School! Looks like a good adaptation.

HULU Announces a Series of MARVEL Animated Series

The Hollywood Reporter:

The streamer — soon to be majority controlled by Marvel parent Disney as part of the Fox asset sale — has greenlit four animated series (and a special) as part of a new partnership with the comic giant.

Adult animated series based on popular Marvel Television characters MODOK, Hit-Monkey, Tigra & Dazzler and Howard the Duck have been ordered to series. Similar to Netflix’s original four-series deal, all of the Hulu animated shows will culminate in a special — called The Offenders.

I thought for sure that this was an April Fool’s gag, months early.

That said, A Patton Oswalt MODOK show? Hell yeah.

Spotify Continues Its Podcast Focus - Picks Up Not Just Gimlet, but Anchor Too

Spotify PR:

Anchor is a surprise. I think this marks Spotify’s first move into the content-creation game.

Full disclosure: For my day job, I work on projects related to Spotify and their affiliate marketing. It has no bearing on my coverage or writing about Spotify, nor does it reflect upon the opinion of my employer.

SERIAL Fans, HBO is Looking to Pick At Healed Scabs with THE CASE AGAINST ADNAN SYED

youtu.be/VA1qzo2WE…

Here we go again!

Grey Matter Art Has a Dope SPIDER-GWEN Print Releasing Tomorrow

io9:

Spider-Gwen by Raid71 is an officially licensed, 18 x 24 inch, hand-numbered screen print in an edition of 125. It goes on sale Thursday, February 7 at 1:00 p.m. EST via Grey Matter Art for $40.

I love it.

Nickelodeon and Netflix to Team Up on a New TMNT Animated Film

Deadline:

If you haven’t seen Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles yet, you’re missing out.

It’s a really fun series with dope animation.

Billy Eichner Is Getting a TRAINWRECK Too!

IndieWire:

Eichner’s been on the verge for a while. Glad to see him get the spotlight.

Laika’s MISSING LINK Gets a Second Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r782SajIVU&feature=share

Looks like another charming winner for Laika.

'Snack Packaging Turned Into Amazing Art'

Kotaku:

Harukiru, a student at Kobe Design University, makes these striking sculptures by cutting up the packing with scissors or a blade.

Really cool stuff!

Adidas x GAME OF THRONES Shoes Revealed, And They’re Dope!

SneakerNews.com:

These look GREAT! And, more importantly, they look comfy.

Anya Taylor-Joy to Star in Edgar Wright’s LAST NIGHT IN SOHO

Variety:

Wright and “Penny Dreadful” writer Krysty Wilson-Cairns penned the script for the movie - a Focus and Working Title co-production.

Described as a psychological horror-thriller, exact plot details are unknown other than the story being set in London’s Soho district. Production is expected to start this summer in London.

Edgar Wright is all you had to say for me to say I’m in.

LEGION to Return For Its THIRD and FINAL Season this Summer

Marvel:

Landgraf explained that “Legion" Executive Producer/Showrunner Noah Hawley (“Fargo") had planned for the series to run for three season from the start, and that the decision to end the series now allowed Hawley to conflude the story as intended with this upcoming season.

Season 2 hits Hulu this month. I like when series are able to go out on their own terms.

The WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS Series Looks Absolutely Fantastic

youtu.be/SyZi3rJPE…

This show will either be:

a. A massive hit.

b. Cancelled after 4 episodes and heralded as a lost classic for decades to come.

I feel like there is no middle ground here.

Y THE LAST MAN is FINALLY Going to be a TV Series

IGN:

Announced by presidents of original programing at FX, Nick Grad and Eric Schrier, the series follows Y, the last man alive, as he “traverses a post-apocalyptic world in which a cataclysmic event has decimated every male save for one lone human.“ The DC Comic series by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra focuses on a new world order of women and explores gender, race, class and survival.

Look for it in 2020.

Pixar Releases a SparkShort’, PURL

www.youtube.com/watch

Cool idea, Pixar extending their world of shorts to give more filmmakers a shot.

This short is all about a ball of yarn trying to make things work in a bro-culture heavy company.

We also have a Meet the Filmmakers’ Short…

www.youtube.com/watch

…And a behind the scenes video!

www.youtube.com/watch

For more on SparkShorts in general, here’s…you guessed it, another video:

www.youtube.com/watch

All the Creepy As Hell SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK Teasers In One Video

www.youtube.com/watch

If you’re a 90’s kid, you know how bad this book messed you up.

The teasers alone are doing the same for me.

DAMNED RED SPOT

TOY STORY 4 Super Bowl Ad Tells Us, We’re Definitely Leaving Home

youtu.be/3_Z8wKv6o…

How on Earth do they end up at a carnival?

#FastFoodArmsRace: Sesame Street Gets Official Krispy Kreme Donuts in Japan

SoraNews24:

That’s right, Sesame Street and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Japan have teamed up to turn some of TV’s most beloved characters into tasty treats, and the results look as sweet as can be.

It’s crazy how well their looks translate to donut form…and that mini cookie for the Cookie Monster donut? Superb touch.

Surprise! We got an AVENGERS: END GAME Spot During the Big Game

youtu.be/-iFq6IcAx…

All the blogs said this wasn’t going to happen…but here it is.

Bleak, eh?

The Second Trailer for US Continues To Menace Me

www.youtube.com/watch

Seen first on Reddit, then on the Super Bowl, this second trailer for Us continues to underline how masterful Jordan Peele has become as a horror director.

Spotify is Looking to Shake-Up Podcasting, Wants to Buy Gimlet Media

Recode:

Spotify, which has been trying to branch out of the streaming music business, is getting ready to make its first big move into podcasting: It plans to pay more than $200 million to buy Gimlet Media, the startup behind popular shows like Reply All.

That’s a big splash to make in the Podcast world.

That said, I find one of the biggest charms of the world of podcast is that it is still very DIY, and even the large competitors are working through the same processes and tech as the one-man operations. Could be interesting.

CBS is Making a FRANKENSTEIN Cop Show. Really.

TVLine:

What a world.

A Newer, Smaller Nintendo Switch is Apparently Coming This Year

IGN:

But if they pull the “Switch" part out, what’s the point of the name?

(RIP 3DS, btw.)

The HOBBS & SHAW Trailer Is HERE!

youtu.be/5Lxu75r3-…

Sure, still no reason why we’re OK with Jason Statham killing off part of the “family", but hey! Idris Elba! YEAH!

Aw Snap! Apple Just Blocked Google’s Internal Apps Too.

The Verge:

The game is afoot.

The Voice Cast for Amazon’s INVINCIBLE Animated Adaptation Absolutely Rules

Deadline:

The streaming service said today that the voice cast will also include Sandra Oh, Seth Rogen, Gillian Jacobs, Andrew Rannells, Zazie Beetz, Mark Hamill, Walton Goggins, Jason Mantzoukas, Mae Whitman, Chris Diamantopoulos, Melise, Kevin Michael Richardson, Grey Griffin and Max Burkholder, among others. No details on characters yet.

The adult animated superhero series revolves around 17-year-old Mark Grayson (Yeun), who’s just like every other guy his age — except his father is the most powerful superhero on the planet, Omni-Man (Simmons). But as Mark develops powers of his own, he discovers his father’s legacy may not be as heroic as it seems.

I love this cast so goddamned much.

Digital Movie Locker ULTRAVIOLET Closing Down July 31st

Variety:

DECE will start to inform its users of the wind-down this Thursday, and is advising users to not delete their Ultraviolet movie libraries. Users should instead make sure that their libraries are connected to the service of at least one retailer, which they can then use to access their movies and TV shows going forward, according to an FAQ document that is slated to be published on Ultraviolet’s website on Thursday morning.

So, uh….Paramount. Lionsgate. Buddies.

…you gonna get on MoviesAnywhere now?

Pretty Cool Behind the Scenes SNL Video: How they Create the Cue Cards

youtu.be/3djg59JUr…

I could watch countless videos like this.

Stephen King’s THE STAND Coming to CBS All-Access

EW.com:

The 1978 fan favorite has been greenlit as a 10-episode event series for the streaming service CBS All Access.

Hopefully this is better than the 90’s TV-Movie!

(Still not super interested in signing up for CBS All-Access.)

Bloomberg Reveals Apple’s 2019 iPhone, iPad and iOS Plans

Bloomberg:

The rear-facing, longer-range 3-D camera is designed to scan the environment to create three-dimensional reconstructions of the real world. It will work up to about 15 feet from the device, the people said. That’s in contrast with the current iPhone 3-D camera system, which points toward users and operates at distances of 25 to 50 centimeters to power Apple’s Face ID facial-recognition feature.

3D Cameras, eh? Pretty cool! (This is my standard “new-every-two" renewal year.)

Check out the full article for details on new iPads coming, and some early details on iOS 13, including the long-anticipated Dark Mode!

WESTWORLD’s Lisa Joy to Make Directorial Debut with REMINISCENCE

Deadline:

I love Westworld, so I’m game for this.

THE BATMAN Has a Release Date and Is Officially Down One Ben Affleck

Variety:

The studio has also dated a rebooted “The Suicide Squad" for Aug. 6, 2021, Robert Zemeckis’ “The Witches" for Oct. 16, 2020, and Stephen King’s “Doctor Sleep" for Nov. 8, 2019.

Ben Affleck will not be returning to play the Caped Crusader, which had been expected for some time, as Reeves will be handpicking the next Bruce Wayne.

Reeves is writing and directing the pic.

Not surprising given the “fresh start" vibe of the DC Comics movies as of late.

Also, is that confirmation that the James Gunn-directed Suicide Squad movie is a fresh start too?

#FastFoodArmsRace: Get Ready for NITRO PEPSI

Food & Wine:

I’d be willing to try one.

The Criterion Channel Has a Release Date

From a subscriber-only email:

For those who missed it, this was what Criterion was setting up in the wake of the end of FilmStruck.

I’m definitely considering this.

You can sign-up yourself, here.

Hey, Google Did Some Shitty Data Collecting Too!

TechCrunch:

Ugh.

Sony Announces a Meeting to Showcase the Future of PlayStation’ [UPDATE: FAKE]

PSU:

This reminds me of the PlayStation 4 announcement, which was…holy shit, it was six years ago?

Based on the timelines, could we have the PlayStation 5 for the Holidays?!

EDIT: UPDATE. It’s fake.

twitter.com/jasonschr…

FINALLY - The Roomba Lawnmower is Real

Ars Technica:

Hard to believe it’s taken them 11 years to plot this out, but maybe it’s worth it in the end versus their competitors.

HOT WHEELS, A License With No Notable Concept or Characters Beyond Cars, To Become a Warner Bros Film

Variety:

This will mark the second partnership for the two companies following the news of the “Barbie" feature film starring Margot Robbie.

I mean, The LEGO Movie worked…

…but The Emoji Movie was bad…

…and The Playmobil Movie will probably be bad…

Any chance this can just become the Nickelodeon version of Fast & Furious? I figure that’d be the best way to go.

The Latest on Matt Reeves’ THE BATMAN

From this Hollywood Reporter Interview:

It’s very much a point of view-driven, noir Batman tale. It’s told very squarely on his shoulders, and I hope it’s going to be a story that will be thrilling but also emotional. It’s more Batman in his detective mode than we’ve seen in the films. The comics have a history of that. He’s supposed to be the world’s greatest detective, and that’s not necessarily been a part of what the movies have been. I’d love this to be one where when we go on that journey of tracking down the criminals and trying to solve a crime, it’s going to allow his character to have an arc so that he can go through a transformation.

Do you have a title yet?

(Laughs.) Right now it’s called The Batman. What it will be called ultimately, I don’t know.

Have you begun the casting process?

There will be a Rogues Gallery. The casting process will begin shortly. We’re starting to put together our battle plan. I’m doing another pass on the script and we’ll begin some long-lead stuff to start developing conceptual things.

What’s your goal as far as a release date?

We haven’t been dated. I wouldn’t commit to this, but we’re thinking the movie would probably be for 2021, late spring or summer. Warner Bros. has been incredibly supportive and given me a lot of time and shared the same passion that I do for this story.

Sounds interesting. Like the idea of a full Rogues Gallery on display.

With Birds of Prey filming now for a 2020 release, I suppose we should hear something more on The Batman soon.

Begun, the Apple/Facebook Wars Have

The Verge:

The shutdown comes in response to news that Facebook has been using Apple’s program for internal app distribution to track teenage customers with a “research" app.

Get the popcorn ready.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Dairy Queen Kicks-Off a Turf War with McDonald’s Over the Shamrock Shake

Chew Boom:

The Mint Shake features mint syrup hand-blended with milk and the brand’s vanilla soft serve. The shake is finished with a swirl of whipped topping. A malt version is also available.

As a big fan of the Shamrock Shake — the Arby’s version isn’t half bad either — I look forward to trying this.

I Now REALLY Want to See APOLLO 11

youtu.be/3Co8Z8BQg…

I’ve never seen footage like this out of NASA. So cool!

Nintendo Releases Japanese Exclusive SUPER MARIO Chocolate Molds

SoraNews24:

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Nintendo has released two silicone cooking trays inspired by its flagship franchise.

How delightful. Maybe ThinkGeek can get on importing them?

Judd Apatow to Give Pete Davidson His Own TRAINWRECK

The Hollywood Reporter:

Apatow, who hasn’t directed a studio or narrative feature since 2015’s Amy Schumer hit Trainwreck, is teaming with Pete Davidson for an untitled comedy.

The project is set up at Universal.

Davidson, currently one of the high-profile players on Saturday Night Live who is coming off the Sundance debut of the comedy Big Time Adolescence, wrote the script with Apatow and Dave Sirus and will star in what is being described as a semi-autobiographical story of Davidson growing up in Staten Island, New York.

Hey, I liked Trainwreck! And I really enjoy Pete Davidson. So this could be fun!

Casper Makes Fancy Nightlights Now

The Verge:

I think this is kinda cool, and the use of accelerometers to change the level of brightness/start a new “session" is clever - but the price feels a smidge high.

Set it at $60? I’d consider it.

'Facebook Pays Teens to Install VPN That Spies on Them'

TechCrunch:

This is so fucking gross.

All that for $20/mo. Ugh.

Zack Snyder to Return to the World of Zombies for NETFLIX With ARMY OF THE DEAD

The Hollywood Reporter:

Hey, I liked his Dawn of the Dead remake, so why not?

'Jordan Peele’s All-American Nightmares'

Rolling Stone:

I loved this feature on Jordan Peele, released ahead of the hype around his Get Out follow-up, Us.

I hope that Peele is making us scared, uncomfortable and entertained for years to come.

#FastFoodArmsRace: KFC Declares Creative Bankruptcy, Just Throws Cheetos on a Sandwich

Greensboro.com:

KFC is testing a Cheetos Sandwich at select restaurants in the greater Triad.

The sandwich features a crispy chicken filet with Cheetos sauce on a toasted bun with mayonnaise and a layer of crunchy Cheetos.

Way to go, KFC. You’ve given up entirely. Towel is thrown in. Cheetos thrown on. And the Carolinas feel the wrath first.

ZOMBIELAND 2 Is Officially Named...

www.twitter.com/SonyPictu…

Zombieland: Double Tap

I like the name!

The idea of running back Zombieland a decade later though?

Outlook is hazy on that one.

LEGO to Celebrate 20 Years of STAR WARS Sets With Special Line

The Brothers Brick:

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of LEGO Star Wars, the company is launching five special sets featuring iconic ships with exclusive throwback minifigures in tribute of the storied history of the franchise. The sets will be available later this year (likely in April), and we will bring you exact release information when it becomes available.

Such a fun idea, and a great way for newer fans to pick up some classic vehicles and characters who are harder to find now.

Leigh Whannel to Direct INVISIBLE MAN Reboot for Universal

Variety:

Whannell will also pen the script.

The move is part of a fresh strategy for Universal’s monsters properties, bringing creative directors with distinctive visions to the classic characters and moving on from the interconnected Dark Universe concept.

Hell yes. Upgrade ruled. THIS should then — hopefully — rule.

Bo Peep is Back in TOY STORY 4

twitter.com/toystory/…

Someone is definitely not a damsel in distress anymore!

A character poster came out as well. I really like this redesign.

Apple Wants To Start a Gaming Subscription Service?

Cheddar:

The service would function like Netflix for games, allowing users who pay a subscription fee to access a bundled list of titles. Apple ($AAPL) began privately discussing a subscription service with game developers in the second half of 2018, said the people, all of whom requested anonymity to discuss unannounced plans.

So, let’s see what’s in the ether right now, Apple/Subscription-Wise:

They really are chasing that services money, aren’t they? Makes me think a book service might be next?

(and my kingdom — and my wallet — for an “iTunes Open Access" pass, where you get all the movies/TV for a flat rate.)

A BIRDS OF PREY Teaser Has Snuck Online

www.youtube.com/watch

I assume that this is from a costume test, but hey - Birds of Prey is definitely, probably, a real movie.

First Teaser Trailer for BARRY, Season 2

youtu.be/mFWt-Abv9…

If you slept on the first season of Barry, you need to fix that.

Who knew Bill Hader had a show so creative, so funny, so great as this in him?

Major Brands Are Looking to Move to Reusable Packaging

Vox:

Starting in May, Unilever’s Axe and Dove deodorants will come in refillable steel containers that are expected to last eight years. PepsiCo will start selling Tropicana orange juice in glass bottles and certain flavors of Quaker cereal in steel containers. HÁ¤agen-Dazs, owned by NestlÁ©, will come in refillable stainless steel tins. Procter & Gamble’s Pantene shampoo will come in aluminum bottles, and its Tide brand detergent will come in stainless steel containers.

Not coming to my neck of the woods yet, but sign me the heck up.

DETECTIVE PIKACHU 2 Already In Development

The Hollywood Reporter:

Legendary has begun work on a sequel to its Pokemon-based movie, hiring Oren Uziel to pen the script. The move is a sign of confidence, as it comes close to three months before the company releases the Ryan Reynolds-starrer on May 10 via Warner Bros.

This movie really is going to make all the money, isn’t it?

Jason Bateman to Direct John Cena in New Action-Comedy for Netflix

The Hollywood Reporter:

Cena will star in the untitled project, which Bateman will direct. Sources say Bateman will also appear in the project.

The action comedy reteams Bateman with Mark Perez, the writer of his 2018 sleeper hit Game Night.

This new project definitely has a Game Night vibe to the plot. The story centers on a family that gets stuck in an old abandoned movie studio. The sets come to life and the family members find themselves stuck in various films.

I absolutely adored Game Night, so this sounds like a great time to me.

If you’re not yet on the John Cena-as-an-actor train, I cannot recommend Blockers more, a wonderfully filthy and sweet comedy of which Cena is a highlight.

SPIDER-MAN on PS4 Gets…FANTASTIC

twitter.com/Marvel/st…

I really am loving the post-release support from Insomniac for this game.

Related: Anyone I know pick up the DLC? Worth it?

Christopher Nolan’s Next Film Is Set for Summer 2020

The Hollywood Reporter:

Warner Bros. announced Friday that Nolan’s next film will open in Imax on July 17, 2020.

And that’s literally all we know.

I rewatched Interstellar last weekend, and Nolan - even in his films considered “less successful" - aims with a boldness not found from his peers. Plus, he usually gets to do something completely original.

In turn - I’ll be there for this. Whatever it is.

Netflix to Launch a RESIDENT EVIL Series

Deadline:

I’m guessing this will be closer to the movies, then?

The MORBIUS Movie Remains A Thing, As Matt Smith Joins The Cast

Variety:

So…I ended up kinda liking(?) Venom, so maybe this won’t bad, says the Blogger with a serious case of Stockholm Syndrome.

Amazon Brings THE BOYS To Life

www.youtube.com/watch

I’m still a little bummed that Simon Pegg didn’t get to play Hughie, but having him as his dad will be a nice consolation prize.

Netflix’s UMBRELLA ACADEMY Series Looks GREAT!

youtu.be/0DAmWHxeo…

I love this comic. I’m glad to see the Netflix show is looking so damn good.

Sandra Bullock to Produce, Possibly Star in REBORN Movie For Netflix

Deadline:

The sci-fi fantasy comic series by Mark Millar and Greg Capullo tells the story of an eighty year-old woman, Bonnie Black, who dies in a Manhattan hospital only to find herself reborn in the prime of life in the afterlife world of Adystria, a magical land of monsters and dragons where good and evil are waging an eternal war. There, she finds old friends and loved ones waiting, except the husband who died before her. Armed with a sword and partnered with her late father, she sets off through the battle-torn landscape on a quest to find out where he is.

Oscar-winner Bullock will produce, as will Roy Lee and Miri Yoon for Vertigo Entertainment. I’m hearing from sources that Gravity star Bullock could potentially lead cast in the movie, which is currently in development. Mark Millar and Greg Capullo will be executive producers. Co-producer will be Samantha Nisenboim.

Anyone I know read Reborn? Was it any good? I love the idea of Capullo’s imagination just going buck wild.

’Zuckerberg Plans to Integrate WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook Messenger’

The New York Times:

<darkseid> Facebook…is. </darkseid>

Nintendo Reveals METROID PRIME 4 Is Starting From Scratch With Retro Studios

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLIv_UXI_So

I appreciate that they’re so open and honest to fandom.

…but what state was the prior build in?

An Amazing, Spectacular, Timed INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE Print Goes on Sale Later Today

io9:

Artists Matt Ferguson and Florey have collaborated on two gorgeous new posters for the newly Oscar-nominated film, which we thought was the best film of 2018. The artwork captures all the different styles in the movie with colors that bring to mind the film’s impressive visual style. Plus, the posters have a surprising second dimension. The poster goes on sale at noon EST on Wednesday, January 23 through Bottleneck Gallery as well as Grey Matter Art, with two editions to choose from.

Love it!

#FastFoodArmsRace: Crab Claws. On A Pizza. Only at Pizza Hut Malaysia

Brand Eating:

That’s a bold topping choice.

George Perez Retires From Comics

The Beat:

Truly one of the greatest of all-time.

I recommend you track down his Kurt Busiek written run of Avengers, where basically the goal seemed to be to get Perez to draw as many characters per scene as possible. Awe-inspiring pure comics goodness.

Netflix is Looking to Reboot UNSOLVED MYSTERIES

Deadline:

The series, which was hosted by Robert Stack and ran for over 500 episodes between 1987 and 2010, is being refreshed by Stranger Things EP Shawn Levy and his company 21 Laps Entertainment and Netflix.

Two thoughts:

Entertainment Weekly Reveals Rob Liefeld’s New X-Men Character - MAJOR X

EW.com

It’s worth reading the full article just for the intro, where Rob is hyper-aware of the Rob Liefeld Name’ meme going across Twitter.

Also, this character kinda looks like a Liefeld self-aware parody…makes me think it’s a character we know under the mask/helmet.

Sam Elliot IS THE MAN WHO KILLED HITLER AND THEN THE BIGFOOT

www.youtube.com/watch

This is something I never knew I wanted. (And this is made even more amazing by how much Sam Elliott looks like my stepfather.)

Help, I’m Obsessed with this TROPIC THUNDER Inspired Track

www.youtube.com/watch

Found this really cool video tutorial to OP-1 sampler via BoingBoing, which then results in an awesome, chill track sampling Tropic Thunder.

If you just want to hear the final song, skip to 4 mins in, but watching the process is fascinating.

The Ultraviolence Returns - MORTAL KOMBAT 11 Gameplay Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

The graphics look gorgeous and gory, and apparently yep, that’s Ronda Rousey as Sonya Blade.

Did I see a human, unmasked Scorpion in there?

Update: Here’s some more videos from the reveal event!

Warning: GORY!

www.youtube.com/watch

www.youtube.com/watch

www.youtube.com/watch

youtu.be/mGriZJq7n…

Looks great, but I wary that the customization system and such will be microtransaction heavy, a’la Injustice 2.

We’ll see this April!

Apple Backs Simon Kinberg Sci-Fi Series

Deadline:

Well, considering how great X-Men: Apocalypse was, and how stellar X-Men: Dark Phoenix looks, I’m sure this will be fi—

—What’s that? I’m sorry, I’m being told that movie sucked and the forthcoming one looks terrible.

This is an awful idea. Why do people fail up?

John Wick Gets Ready to Close The Trilogy with the first JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 — PARABELLUM

Apple’s Tim Cook Writes Online Privacy Op-Ed for TIME

Time:

This problem is solvable—it isn’t too big, too challenging or too late. Innovation, breakthrough ideas and great features can go hand in hand with user privacy—and they must. Realizing technology’s potential depends on it.

That’s a big push from one of the biggest tech companies in the world. Will it be worth it? Stay tuned.

Much of the MCU to Get Midwestern Gothic’ for Netflix in THE DEVIL ALL OF THE TIME

twitter.com/seewhatsn…

That’s a stellar goddamned cast! Is this why Netflix prices went up?

Toni Collette and Anna Kendrick to STOWAWAY To Mars

Variety:

The movie marks the second feature from Joe Penna and Ryan Morrison, the duo behind “Arctic,“ a survival film that premiered at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. “Stowaway" will be directed by Penna, who will co-write the script with Morrison.

The story revolves around a mission headed to Mars, where an unintended stowaway accidentally causes severe damage to the spaceship’s life support systems. Facing dwindling resources and a potentially grim outcome, a medical researcher (Kendrick) emerges as the only dissenting voice against the clinical logic of both her commander (Collette) and the ship’s biologist.

That’s two of my favorite working actresses already. Sold!

Disney To Take Another Spin at THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, This Time, In Live Action Form

Deadline:

The original animated movie was really dark - I wonder if this version will lighten it up, or lean harder into the sadness? With Gad in the mix, I assume light, but, we’ll see…

Danny Glover is NOT Too Old for JUMANJI

Variety:

His role is being kept under wraps, as is the storyline. Glover will star opposite Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillan, all of whom are set to return.

New theory with DeVito and Glover in the cast: this time the game system ends up at a senior living facility.

The Motorola RAZR Returns From The Dead

WSJ:

This was my first cellphone! Interested to see what form it takes in 2019…that $1500 price though, woof.

A24 Brings A Weird, Sexy, Death Filled Story to Space with HIGH LIFE

youtu.be/AtOwfo1yp…

It’s A24, So I’ll Watch It!â„¢

Nike Brings BACK TO THE FUTURE II To Life: App-Controlled Self-Lacing Shoes

Nike:

The effort to refine fit has yielded a number of innovative platforms through Nike’s history — Huarache, Flywire and Flyknit, to name a few. Perhaps none was more critical to advancing custom fit than the 2016 introduction of the Nike HyperAdapt 1.0, the first Nike multipurpose performance shoe to feature power lacing.

Now, Nike has found its most advanced fit solution to date: Nike Adapt, a platform that creates a truly custom fit by combining an advanced power-lacing system, an app and continually updated firmware, featured in the new Nike Adapt BB basketball shoe.

What a world. Just a few years after BttF II predicted it, too.

A Proper Tease for GHOSTBUSTERS 2020

twitter.com/JasonReit…

I’m guessing Reitman used this as part of his pitch process to Sony Pictures. Certainly enough to get people excited, even if it’s not at all a part of the final film.

(See also the TR2N tease from San Diego Comic Con a decade ago.)

Surprise! The Creator of the US Office and Steve Carrell are bringing SPACE FORCE to Netflix

www.youtube.com/watch

Love to see Carrell embrace comedy again. I will gladly give this a spin.

Sophia Coppola and Bill Murray to Reunite for A24/Apple’s First Film

The Wrap:

The two will work together again in “On the Rocks,“ which Coppola is writing and directing with Murray to star opposite Rashida Jones, according to an individual with knowledge of the project.

I’m in!

Apple Now Provides Maps to Duck Duck Go

Duck Duck Go:

That’s a massive move for Apple’s continued privacy push.

But you know what would be bolder? If Apple turned down the literal billions that Google pays them to stay the default search engine.

Jason Reitman to Continue the GHOSTBUSTERS Franchise in the Modern Day

EW.com:

Wow. Jason Reitman is great, and this is a cool idea to continue the franchise without the weight of the prior films.

Just avoid shoehorning in cameos from the original gang, and we’re good.

The First Trailer is Here for SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME

www.youtube.com/watch

Peter’s heading to Europe, SHIELD’s got plans for him, May and Happy are hooking up, and holy crap is that MYSTERIO?!

This looks great.

Oh, and we’ve got a poster!

UPDATE: Here’s the slightly different International cut.

www.youtube.com/watch

Director Christopher McQuarrie to Return for TWO More MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE Films

Variety:

Sources tell Variety that McQuarrie has signed back on to return to write and direct the next two films in the popular franchise. Sources also add that both films would be shot back-to-back — not unlike the final two “Avengers" sequels — in order to take advantage of the popularity of the series, with the first bowing summer 2021 and the second coming out in summer 2022. The release comes in 2021 to avoid conflict with Paramount and Cruise’s next big venture, “Top Gun: Maverick.“

Wow! I absolutely loved Rogue Nation and Fallout, and a lot of that has to do with McQuarrie’s deft hand as writer and director.

Who would’ve thought that we’d see a seventh AND eight Mission: Impossible, with Tom Cruise doing his own stunts at ages 59 and 60, respectively.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Skittles Launches a Broadway Musical Instead of a Super Bowl Ad

The Takeout:

This is certainly a choice of promotional vehicle.

I bet it’s cheaper overall to put on than a Super Bowl ad is. How sad is that?

UNCHARTED Gets Yet Another Director

Variety:

Trachtenberg replaces Shawn Levy, who had to depart the project due to scheduling conflicts. Sony has been hoping to work with Trachtenberg since “10 Cloverfield Lane" opened in 2016.

“Uncharted" is based on the PlayStation video game series that follows the adventures of treasure hunter Nathan Drake. The film stars Tom Holland and chronicles Drake’s first encounter with the professional rogue Sullivan.

I don’t love the idea of an Uncharted movie.

I don’t like the idea of it focusing on the origins of Drake.

…but Dan Trachtenberg? That’s a Totally Rad choice I can get behind.

31 Years Later, Here Comes COMING TO AMERICA 2

Deadline:

Comedy sequels don’t always go great, but I think we all want a new, good Eddie Murphy project. Fingers crossed.

Radar State - Strays

Amazing Yamaguchi IRON MAN (Bleeding Edge Armor) Revoltech Figure Revealed

TokusatsuRevoltech.com (via Google Translate):

The move expressing a supple human body who has repeatedly devised throughout the series is a composition that added a sense that it seemed to be a mechatz suit and seemed like it.

Metallic paint of bright red and gold complements the pose which is determined naturally and powerfully, including the three point landing which is the symbol of “Iron Man”.

In addition, Yamaguchi featuring “Iron Man Model 37” alias “Bleeding edge armor” from among the many armor that appeared in the comic.

I love how unbelievably, crazy, exaggeratedly ANIME this figure is.

I know there was a mid-2000’s attempt, but I’d really love a high budget Iron Man anime, with all the flying missiles and explosions that the finest animators can render.

Bungie Leaves Activision, Takes DESTINY Independent

Bungie.net:

Massive news.

This could be the best news for the future of Destiny.

Very excited to see what an independent Bungie can produce without Activision’s strong, typically money-focused hand.

They may even get me to play Destiny 3!

’The Rise and Demise of RSS’

Sinclair Target for Motherboard:

The future once looked so bright for RSS. What happened? Was its downfall inevitable, or was it precipitated by the bitter infighting that thwarted the development of a single RSS standard?

I still wholeheartedly believe in RSS. It’s why I stubbornly pay for Feedbin every month. It’s how I prefer to ingest the web.

Maybe that makes me old, or opposed to change, but this article hits the nail on the head of why I find RSS so important, while providing key insight to the format’s inception.

My biggest counter to the article is the idea that Twitter and Facebook now serve as that syndication tool. While they certainly do, by no means should it remain. I think RSS - or it’s new cousin, JSON Feed - need a mainstream revival.

Google - if you’re listening, mind spinning back up Reader?

Former Pixar Head John Lassiter to Lead Skydance Animation

Variety:

The hire comes after Lasseter has been trying, and largely failing, to drum up interest from studios in recent months, having met with Warner Bros. and other players. Many major studios and technology companies were wary of partnering with Lasseter because he was ousted from Pixar in the wake of a sexual harassment scandal.

sigh.

It’s always a good sign when a CEO has to write an open letter to his employees about why they allowed someone to work for them.

Shame that there aren’t easy ways to avoid those situations. Shame that you can’t just, I dunno, literally hire anyone else.

So, We’re Giving WOODSTOCK A Shot Again

Rolling Stone:

Just no Limp Bizkit this time, yeah?

Kinda love the shade thrown at the 1999 edition:

DC Comics joins Comixology Unlimited

io9:

io9 can exclusively confirm that starting today, thousands of select comics—from single issues to graphic novels and complete collections—from both DC and its Vertigo imprint will be joining the roster of free-to-read comics included as part of the Comixology Unlimited subscription.

FINALLY.

Will the SPIDER-VERSE Come to Television?

Deep within this profile of Sony head Kenichiro Yoshida by Brooks Barnes at the New York Times:

Give me that Spider-Ham series, Sony!

A Special Look’ at CAPTAIN MARVEL

youtu.be/GX33bIOA5…

You wanted quips? HERE ARE THE QUIPS!

(Tickets are on sale now, too. Got mine last night.)

OtterBox and PopSockets Join Forces To Make…An OtterBox with a PopSocket Built In

The Verge:

These are going to be a license to print money.

The OtterBox/PopSocket combo is one I see all the time in the real world, and this one fix is just a perfect way to sell both back to those who already have them.

VENOM Sequel Officially Moving Forward

Variety:

Awesome!

I actually, sorta, kinda, liked Venom? It wasn’t as awful as I had heard, nor as “good bad" as I had heard. Tom Hardy was a blast to watch in the role though, even if I had issues with the now standard Superhero Third Act CGI Mess Battleâ„¢.

Big Dave Bautista Joins DUNE

The Hollywood Reporter:

Timothee Chamalet and Rebecca Ferguson are already toplining the project, which tells the complex story of a fallen noble family’s attempt to control of a desert planet named Arrakis and its export, a rare spice drug, while being betrayed by a galactic emperor.

For those more familiar with the source material than I, Dave will be playing “Beast’ Rabban, the sadistic nephew of a baron who oversees Arrakis.“

I’ll be honest, I’m in for whatever Villeneuve makes, and I’m excited to see him continue to work with Bautista.

LOVE, DEATH AND ROBOTS: A New Animated Anthology Coming to Netflix

IGN:

Love, Death and Robots is comprised of 18 short stories that each last 5-15 minutes, totaling up to 185 minutes of content. Each short is created by a different team of filmmakers from around the world, spanning genres like science fiction, fantasy, horror and comedy, and the animation style for each short is distinct, ranging from traditional 2D animation to photorealistic 3D CGI. Furthermore, the anthology as a whole is aimed at an adult audience.

Sounds pretty freaking sweet to me!

Apple Bringing AirPlay 2 to Smart TVs

Apple.com:

So far, Samsung, Vizio, and LG have announced plans to work with AirPlay 2.

…what does this mean for the Apple TV?

#FastFoodArmsRace: McDonald’s Launching Donut Sticks

Business Insider:

In February the chain plans to launch “Donut Sticks” as a limited-time offering, according to internal documents viewed by Business Insider. The strips of deep-fried dough, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, will be available only during breakfast hours.

Sounds like they’re going for Dunkin’s throat!

Tony Hawk Says He Was Supposed to be in a SPACE JAM Offshoot named SKATE JAM

From over the weekend on Twitter:

twitter.com/tonyhawk/…

…Tony, bud, you sure that it wasn’t supposed to be called Taz Atti-Tour? Like, an animated film tied into the traveling event?

Because that’s what it says on the artwork…

Danny DeVito joins the cast of the next JUMANJI film

Variety:

I see they’re not making the same mistake Detective Pikachu did.

Now, the next step: will they have a monster condom for his magnum dong?

Amazon’s Making a HANNA TV Series, And I’m Here For It

youtu.be/wp6myRLnh…

Hanna, the movie version at least, absolutely ruled and if you haven’t seen it, you’re messing up.

Hopefully the show will be a fraction as good.

Hey! It’s the New CARMEN SANDIEGO!

youtu.be/shbiwCCMD…

Hits Netflix on January 18th!

Awkwafina Joins the JUMANJI Sequel Cast

Variety:

Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan are all expected to return, with Jake Kasdan coming back as director.

This girl is going to be a megastar.

LEGO Reveals Massive Apocalypseburg’ Set for THE LEGO MOVIE 2

Shop.LEGO.com:

I like how this can also work as the start of a Planet of the Apes set.

The McElroy Family is Writing a Book for Marvel Comics

McElroy.Family:

Crazy stuff! Those good, good boys keep getting into cooler and cooler situations.

They really are the best family on the web.

Project CARS 2 Dev Slightly Mad Studios Getting Into the Console Business with THE MAD BOX

Variety:

The Twitter account of Ian Bell, CEO of Slightly Mad Studios cryptically tweeted “The Mad Box is coming" on Wednesday.

When reached for more details, Bell told Variety that the console will ship in “around three years time" and that “it will be a console as is the Xbox or Playstation.“

Huh.

Certainly living up to their name. I wouldn’t believe this until it actually hits shelves though. Aren’t we still waiting on those Atari and Intellivision relaunches?

Tetris Effect

One of the coolest experiences of my holiday break was getting the chance to finally play Tetris Effect, which released this past November for the PlayStation 4.

I was hooked when I saw the original trailer, embedded below, but I didn’t realize how enthralling the game would be.

www.youtube.com/watch

Sure, there have been some hyperbolic pull quotes from reviews —

Sam Machcovech for Ars Technica:

Michael McWhertor for Polygon:

Christian Donlan for Eurogamer:

— but if I’m honest, they’re, well, right.

Much like his prior games, Rez and Lumines, producer Tetsuya Mizuguchi has given us a game which is an incredible synthesis of gameplay, light, and sound - elements all fusing together to make a puzzle game which is both enthralling and transcendent. It’s really something special. And I’m not even playing in VR!

Tetris Effect is a great puzzle game, but more than that, a great experience - and I feel lucky to get to engage with it. Worth checking this one out, PS4 owners.

Now, if you excuse me, I have to get “Connected (Yours Forever)“ out of my head.

Tetris Effect is available digitally or physically from Sony. Get it here on Amazon.com.

Todd McFarlane Really Knows How to Sell People on the New SPAWN Movie

Nerdist:

“no joy".

That makes me want to get off my ass and out to a theater!

The 1997 original film is a schlocky fav as a kid who grew up worshiping Spawn. This sounds like a fucking mess.

We’ll see how it turns out.

Netflix Announces Release Date for STRANGER THINGS 3

www.youtube.com/watch

Going to be a great holiday! Fireworks and the Upside-Down, together at last.

Netflix Releases a Trailer for BLACK MIRROR: BANDERSNATCH, a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Movie Hitting TOMORROW

Merry Christmas, Here’s the First Trailer for Jordan Peele’s US

Yet Another Entertainment Weekly First-Look: JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3

Entertainment Weekly Gives us a First-Look at Jordan Peele’s US

EW.com:

Trailer hits on Christmas. Really looking forward to this one.

Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson Re-Team in the first MEN IN BLACK: INTERNATIONAL Trailer

youtu.be/BV-WEb2ox…

This looks fun.

(That Danny Elfman theme grabbed me again.)

#FastFoodArmsRace: Domino’s Pizza Australia Makes a Pizza So Damned Large It Needs Custom Boxes, Pans, and Delivery Arrangements

Chew Boom:

The Big One features four fully-loaded quarters of Domino’s most popular pies — Pepperoni, Supreme, BBQ Meatlovers and Hawaiian — each equivalent in size to two large pizzas, with an overall diameter of 40-inches. According to my back-of-the-napkin math, that works out to a total of eight large pizzas in one. Domino’s says The Big One feeds 20 people.

I said goddamn.

When does this saunter over to the States?

INSOMNIAC GAMES Gives Owners of the SPIDER-MAN Game A Special Treat

twitter.com/insomniac…

Nicely done, gang.

(Btw, I think Spider-Man is my Game of the Year?)

'LUDWIG GÁ–RANSSON TO COMPOSE SCORE FOR THE MANDALORIAN'

'As Facebook Raised a Privacy Wall, It Carved an Opening for Tech Giants'

Universal Moves Forward with BATTLESTAR GALACTICA Reboot Movie For Reasons Unknown

HELLBOY (2019) Gets A Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

Released a day early due to an accidental Twitter leak, the first trailer for Hellboy is here.

I really don’t care for the tone here.

A straight up wacky comedy feels like a miss?

Entertainment Weekly Gets a First-Look Image From The New HELLBOY

EW.com:

New trailer hitting tomorrow. Exciting!

Entertainment Weekly gets an Exclusive First-Look at Disney’s Live-Action ALADDIN

EW.com:

And the first Aladdin proved to be much more than a kids’ movie. Disney’s flight through a fictional Middle Eastern realm, woven with wanderlust and magic and loosely inspired by the Arabian folktales in One Thousand and One Nights, ascended to the top of the 1992 box office. On the heels of 1989’s The Little Mermaid and 1991’s Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin helped cement Disney’s animation reign. With a story that captivated audiences and soaring, showstopping songs such as “A Whole New World" and “Friend Like Me,“ it became one of the Mouse House’s most beloved films. When Disney began ramping up production of live-action remakes of its animated fairy tales — such as 2015’s Cinderella and 2017’s blockbuster Beauty and the Beast — Aladdin was greenlit with Ritchie at the helm.

But before he could tell the story, Ritchie had his own three wishes to fulfill.

Honestly, so far, I’m glad that Will Smith isn’t blue.

GLOW is Getting a Comic Book Mini-Series Courtesy of IDW

The Hollywood Reporter:

The comic book will offer an original story spinning out from the critically acclaimed series starring Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin and Marc Maron, as Ruth, Debbie and the other members of GLOW find themselves accidentally scheduled for a charity wrestling match with real lady wrestlers.

Written by WWE and Euthanauts author Tini Howard with art by Hannah Templer (Jem and the Holograms: Dimensions), the comic book GLOW will be overseen by the show’s co-creators, Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch, in an official capacity as executive producers.

Well damn, this rules!

I’ve really got to get caught up on that second season.

MONDO To Close Out the STAR WARS Trilogy With a Timed JOCK Print

Mondo:

“I Am a Jedi, Like My Father Before Me” timed-edition poster concludes Luke’s heroic journey from a hopeful adventurer to confident leader of the Rebellion and skillful Jedi. Set within the forest moon of Endor, Luke stands with his lightsaber at the ready as a Scout trooper races towards him on the iconic speeder bike. Like the other two in Jock’s series, this poster presents the viewer with an intimate and highly kinetic POV. Over the last two years Jock has done an absolutely stunning job showcasing Luke’s trials across the galaxy and we couldn’t be more proud of the series as a whole.

Tomorrow is today at Noon CST, and man, this looks great. Tempting.

First Images and Voice Cast Revealed for Netflix’s THE DARK CRYSTAL: THE AGE OF RESISTANCE

Coming Soon:

Puppets look great, and the voice cast is stunning…but I hope this isn’t one of those scenarios where a beloved favorite is revisited, only for all of us wishing that they never looked back.

SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE Sequel and Spin-Off Details Revealed

Vanity Fair:

The Gwen and Miles adventure will serve as a launching pad for another Gwen-centric tale: Pascal also confirmed that a previously announced Spider-Women spin-off, written by Bek Smith, will feature Spider-Gwen and Cindy Moon (a.k.a. Silk) as well as Jessica Drew (a.k.a. Spider-Woman).

I got to see Into the Spider-Verse this weekend and absolutely loved it, so to say that I’m excited for subsequent films is an understatement. This is one of those wells which deserves to be gone back to, regularly.

Speaking of Into the Spider-Verse, there’s also a SPOILER-FILLED article over at /Film which explains the movie’s post-credit scene.

Apple to Be The Home of New PEANUTS Streaming Content

Variety:

Unexpected, but another great win for Apple’s still mysterious streaming platform.

Wonder what happens with the legacy Peanuts content?

It’s Friday Afternoon, So Here’s Another Facebook Privacy Leak Announcement

Wired:

Here’s the source link on all of that.

The real fun of it all? Here, I’ll let Wired break that down…

Good luck with that one, Zuckerberg! Someone’s got a fine coming.

THE MAGNIFICENT MS. MARVEL Launches in March 2019

Entertainment Weekly:

Great creative duo to continue the awesome work of G. Willow Wilson.

I have to assume Kevin Feige is working on bringing Kamala to the MCU sooner rather than later, right?

RIP Apple Music Connect

9to5Mac:

RIP function within Apple Music which could’ve been good but no one really used.

Maybe they should’ve made an extendable API so people could more easily cross-post to Facebook/Instagram/Twitter and Connect?

Legendary Signs Two More Comic Creators To Development Deals: Matt Fraction & Kelly Sue DeConnick

Deadline:

First Brian K. Vaughan, now Fraction and DeConnick.

Sex Criminals on Netflix anyone?

Legendary Signs Two More Comic Creators To Development Deals: Matt Fraction & Kelly Sue DeConnick

Deadline:

First Brian K. Vaughan, now Fraction and DeConnick.

Sex Criminals on Netflix anyone?

#FastFoodArmsRace: KFC is in the Fire Log Business Now?

KFCFireLog.com:

Imbued with the unmistakable, mouth-watering aroma of Colonel Sanders’ secret recipe, the KFC 11 Herbs & Spices Firelog finally puts to rest the age-old dilemma, “How can I make this fire a hundred bajillion times better?“ This one-of-a-kind firelog from Enviro-Log, a leading manufacturer of firelogs made of 100 percent recycled materials, is the result of countless hours of research and development, all done over the last couple of months since we had this idea. Pick up a firelog today, and you’ll be wondering how you were ever able to enjoy a fire that didn’t smell like fried chicken.

We live in a truly blessed age.

Jordan Peele Shares a New Poster for US

twitter.com/JordanPee…

Still enigmatic as before - though a bit more threatening with those scissors.

All I know is, just as before, with Get Out behind him, I am down for any movie Jordan Peele makes.

So, The PLAYMOBIL Movie Is A Real Thing

www.youtube.com/watch

…huh. How bout that.

John Goodman Deals with the Fallout of an Alien Invasion in CAPTIVE STATE

youtu.be/i68xCzI40…

Looks very interesting. I mean, I was sold with “John Goodman" - that guy always does something great.

Mondo Celebrates the Spider-Verse Tomorrow

Mondo:

Two posters - one for Miles Morales, one for the Spidergeddon event, three really cool record slip mats, and perhaps most importantly: a Spider-Ham pin.

Of note, these are not related to the Into the Spider-Verse movie…but I think I’ve seen Bottleneck Gallery teasing something there

The Full Cast of STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN Revealed

StarWars.com:

Pedro Pascal (Narcos) has been cast in the title role as a lone Mandalorian gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy. He is joined by Gina Carano (Deadpool), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad), Emily Swallow (Supernatural), Carl Weathers (Predator), Omid Abtahi (American Gods), Werner Herzog (Grizzly Man), and Nick Nolte (Affliction).

Absolutely rules. Werner Herzog is going to be a deliriously great addition to the Star Wars mythos.

Zdarsky and Bagley to Team Up on SPIDER-MAN: LIFE STORY

AIPT:

Join acclaimed writer Chip Zdarsky (Peter Parker Spectacular Spider-Man, Marvel 2-In-One) and superstar Spider-Man artist Mark Bagley (Amazing Spider-Man, Ultimate Spider-Man) for SPIDER-MAN: LIFE STORY — a tale encompassing the entire history of Spider-Man from beginning to end, set against the key events of each decade! As the series kicks off in March, the year is 1966, and Peter Parker must determine where his power and responsibility truly lies as the nation becomes embroiled in the Vietnam War.

This sounds really cool.

Based on Zdarsky’s run on Peter Parker: Spectacular Spider-Man, Bagley being arguably the Spider-Man artist, and the prestige format of the series, I expect something truly special.

Pixar’s Next Original Feature, ONWARD, Set for March 2020

twitter.com/DisneyPix…

No idea on the plot or anything, but that’s a great cast!

EDIT: Hey! Thanks to ComingSoon, here’s a vague log line:

ULTRAMAN is Getting An American Reboot

The Hollywood Reporter:

U.S. transmedia producer Starlight Runner Entertainment has been tapped by Tokyo-based Tsuburaya Productions to build out the Ultraman mythology for the digital age outside of Japan, to include a possible live action streaming TV series. The original live action Ultra Q and Ultraman series that launched in 1966 featured a high-tech police force and their silver superhero Ultraman battling to save the Earth from invading aliens and giant monsters.

Not sure if this will turn out OK…

Apple Planning a Spring 2019 Rollout of Their Subscription News Service

Bloomberg:

Now, the problem is - according to the linked article - news outlets are feeling kinda sketch about joining the service.

I mean, I get it - selling online news subscriptions is hard enough, and that’s without Apple taking a cut. And Facebook promised to be the new haven for news, and that has been a complete garbage fire. So I understand the hesitance.

Personally, if they make this roll-up easily into my Apple Music Family Plan, I’d gladly pay for journalism!

Ali Wong Joins BIRDS OF PREY as Renee Montoya’s Pal

TheWrap:

Wong is playing an associate of Renee Montoya in Gotham law enforcement. Additionally, actor Robert Catrini has joined the cast. His role is being kept under wraps.

Interesting! Wong’s a comedy powerhouse these days. Looking forward to what she can bring to the table!

Just Don’t Look: BIRD BOX Trailer

youtu.be/INJ2bPFy1…

So, it’s A Quiet Place, but with vision instead of sound. And it’s got Sandy Bullock.

I mean…I’ll watch it because I have a Netflix subscription.

DOCTOR STRANGE 2 Is Officially Moving Forward

The Hollywood Reporter:

Scott Derrickson, who directed and co-wrote the mystical Marvel hero’s initial 2016 outing, has quietly finalized a deal to direct the new installment.

A search for a writer to pen the script is about to get underway.

Benedict Cumberbatch will return as Stephen Strange, the good doctor-turned-master of the mystic arts, as will Benedict Wong, who plays his right-hand man, Wong. Rachael McAdams, who played Stephen Strange’s love interest, is likely to return as well.

Doctor Strange was an MCU movie which I didn’t fall deeply in love with until subsequent rewatches. I’m confident a sequel will knock it out of the park.

Legendary Acquires Rights for a Big-Budget TOXIC AVENGER Remake

The Hollywood Reporter:

Legendary has acquired film rights to Toxic Avenger, the cult classic from indie schlock producing house Troma Entertainment, with the goal of relaunching the property as a full-throated franchise.

File this story under “Surreal". Sure hope Lloyd Kaufman is getting paid for this one!

THE LEGO MOVIE 2 Celebrates the Holidays with Emmet’s Holiday Party’

youtu.be/vG3vt1ubc…

Just the perfect teaser you need to get into the holiday spirit, while also getting excited for The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.

TRIPLE FRONTIER Trailer: A Bunch of Big Name Actors Pull Off a Heist for Netflix

youtu.be/Fo3yRLLrX…

Glad to see Ben Affleck appearing to be engaged with his work again!

GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS Trailer 2 - They Gonna Fight!

youtu.be/KDnKuFtdc…

AW YEAH. KAIJU ACTION IS EMMINENT.

(And here’s a new poster.)

PANZER DRAGOON Remakes Are On Their Way!

Gematsu:

W-wow. As one of the few US owners of a Sega Saturn, this is incredibly exciting and unexpected.

IGN’s Got an Exclusive SONIC THE HEDGEHOG Movie Motion Poster

Here are a Bunch of Episode Titles for STRANGER THINGS 3

youtu.be/PH3kBCSfL…

The Mall Rats

The Case of the Missing Lifeguard

The Sauna Test

The Source

The Birthday

The Bite

The Battle of Starcourt

I do like how they’re leaning into each new season being a sequel to the prior one.

Of the titles, “The Sauna Test" is the strangest one to me. Sounds like the final set piece takes place in that cool new mall, too.

BROOKLYN NINE-NINE Season 6 Teaser

youtu.be/HblwLcAR4…

Finally, Jake Peralta gets to live his Die Hard dreams.

If I’m honest, I recognize that BK99’s move to NBC is probably only good for a season or two, but I’m very glad that the show will get another lease on life.

If you dug the teaser, btw, enjoy this Holt-approved alternate version:

youtu.be/GnD_WQmWp…

THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY Teaser: Our First Look at the Netflix Adaptation

youtu.be/LMeqY7ogd…

OK, so not all of the looks of the characters are “comic accurate" - but I am way hyped.

BRING IT ON!

BRIGHTBURN Trailer: What If Superman, But Evil?

youtu.be/g6eB0JT1D…

I admit, it’s not the most original concept - but the idea of an Evil Superman movie with talent like James Gunn behind the camera and Elizabeth Banks in front of it, has me intrigued. What say you?

NETFLIX Announces New GHOST IN THE SHELL Anime

twitter.com/NXOnNetfl…

If this is a direct continuation of Stand Alone Complex - meaning complete with Yoko Kanno score - this could be fantastic.

Brian K. Vaughan Signs a Deal with Legendary Entertainment

Deadline:

Under the pact, Legendary will adapt several of Vaughan’s creator-owned comics, as well as produce exclusive, original projects developed by Vaughan for film and television across traditional and non-traditional platforms.

Here comes a Saga movie, or Paper Girls show, or so many other awesome things.

PLASTIC MAN Movie in The Works

The Hollywood Reporter:

Up-and-coming screenwriter Amanda Idoko has been hired to pen the script for what will be a comedic action-adventure for Warner Bros. Bob Shaye, the former co-founder of New Line turned producer, will executive produce.

YES, DC - let’s keep getting weird!

AVENGERS: ENDGAME Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

And here’s your teaser poster:

All The Cool Trailers From THE GAME AWARDS 2018

Polygon:

You can see all the trailers at the link above, but I thought I’d share my favorites. (And don’t get me wrong, I’m excited about some that I’m not sharing here. These are just the one’s which got me really going.)

www.youtube.com/watch

Incredibly stylish, incredibly cool.

youtu.be/1RohG-JzX…

Loved this franchise in the 00’s! Very cool to see it come back, very surprising to see it return as a Nintendo published game.

youtu.be/593xCDfum…

A new isometric action-RPG from Supergiant Games? Hell and yes.

www.youtube.com/watch

Loved ABZU, and this just looks as beautiful and stylish. Maybe I should just immediately pre-order anything Annapurna Interactive is connected to?

3,000 T-Rex vs. 20,000 Jedi

www.youtube.com/watch

Does exactly what it says on the tin.

The RESIDENT EVIL Reboot Has a Writer/Director

Variety:

“47 Meters Down" director Johannes Roberts has been hired by Constantin Film to take the reins on the horror reboot, sources tell Variety.

Oh, cool. Wonder if this will be more based on the earlier games, or the star reboot of Resident Evil 7?

MONDO Returns to the CORNETTO TRILOGY with Artist Logan Faerber

Mondo:

This is our first time working with Logan and he’s done excellent work unifying and capturing these incredible films in his style and aesthetic. We’re stoked and can’t wait to work with Logan again.

Posters go on sale later today. I LOVE Logan’s style!

MTV’s Celebrity Deathmatch Returns, with Ice Cube in Tow!

Variety:

Series creator Eric Fogel will return to executive produce, with Ice Cube set to executive produce and star in the new take on the stop-motion animation series. Jeff Kwatinetz of Cube Vision will also executive produce with Ben Hurwitz co-executive producing. The new “Celebrity Deathmatch" will be available as a weekly series for an SVOD or other network partner in 2019.

I barely recall the 2006 return, but the original was a regular watch for me as a teenager.

My weird ask - are “celebrities" really “celebrities" as they once were? Or will we be seeing YouTuber fights, or Real Housewives throw down?

The 2019 Golden Globe Nominations Have Been Announced

Variety:

“Vice,“ Adam McKay’s scathing Dick Cheney biopic, walked away with a leading six nominations. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the organization behind the Globes, also awarded “A Star Is Born,“ “The Favourite,“ and “Green Book" with three nods apiece. On the television front, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace" picked up four nominations. “Barry,“ “The Kominsky Method,“ and “Homecoming" scored three nominations, as did “Sharp Objects,“ “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,“ and “A Very English Scandal.“

Nice to see Black Panther get a Best Picture - Drama nod, and I can’t wait to see Vice!

The MCELROY FAMILY have a new website

McElroy.Family:

We forgot to put it on the internet.

OK, sure, you could access our work through all manner of back alleys of the web or shady side streets, but never had we opened a virtual storefront to say “Here. Here is content. From a family.“

Now, thanks to our old pals at Vox Media and the incredible, face-melting power of the Chorus platform, that’s all been rectified. We’re not pulling up stakes with our beloved Maximum Fun podcasting family, far from it. We’re just finally making a website where with just one bookmark you can access everything we make all in one place. (We’ll be making some new stuff here too.)

Cool to see the McElroy’s, the best family on the Internet, get a proper home thanks to the Vox team.

To celebrate, we got a new Monster Factory!

I, TONYA Director Joins Emma Stone-lead CRUELLA DE VIL Origin Film

The Hollywood Reporter:

Oh. OK. Cool!

Nice. I like Emma Stone!

Wait. What?

The G.I. JOE SNAKE-EYES Spinoff Movie Now Has a Director Attached

The Hollywood Reporter:

Evan Spiliotopoulos, the writer of 2017’s Beauty and the Beast and 2016’s The Huntsman: Winter’s War, penned the script, and Brian Goldner is among those producing the feature based on the Hasbro toy line.

Hey, if this does for G.I. Joe what it looks like Bumblebee is doing for Transformers, this could be pretty cool.

SESAME STREET Movie To Star, uh, Anne Hathaway

Collider:

That is certainly a choice.

And I’m not even someone who dislikes Hathaway.

I’m just still confused as to how a Sesame Street movie is supposed to work, Follow That Bird aside.

Netflix Is Behind a (Not-So) Secret BETWEEN TWO FERNS Movie

The Hollywood Reporter:

Production is already (and secretly) underway on a feature version of the popular and barb-filled show that hails from Funny or Die.

…huh.

I wonder how on Earth that’s going to work.

Here’s a Look at the Sure-to-Be Torturous WATERSHIP DOWN Remake

youtu.be/w3gQ117IK…

If you know the plot of Watership Down, this is a hard watch. Oh man.

Heads Up Anime Nerds: Funimation’s Library is Moving to….HULU

Variety:

The new agreement comes after Funimation, owned by Sony Pictures Television, ended its cross-licensing deal with rival Crunchyroll earlier this fall.

Under the new multiyear pact between Hulu and Funimation, Hulu gets first dibs on U.S. streaming video-on-demand rights to anime series from Funimation. The deal will make Hulu and Funimation the co-exclusive destinations to certain new subtitled anime series day-and-date with their Japanese broadcast premieres (and eventually dubbed versions as well).

Certainly increases the value of a Hulu subscription, doesn’t it?

CTR: Crash Team Racing Looks to Be Getting a Remaster

Eurogamer:

Following the enormous success of the Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy remaster, it looks like publisher Activision will revisit kart racing spin-off CTR next.

Awesome! I loved this game!

Epic Attempts to Eat Steam’s Lunch: Here Comes the Epic Games Store

Unreal Engine/Epic:

As developers ourselves, we wanted two things: a store with fair economics, and a direct relationship with players. And we’ve heard that many of you want this too!

Soon we’ll launch the Epic Games store, and begin a long journey to advance the cause of all developers. The store will launch with a hand-curated set of games on PC and Mac, then it will open up more broadly to other games and to Android and other open platforms throughout 2019.

This could be huge.

Interesting terms for devs, and coming at a time where gamers are taking issue with Steam/Valve? There’s a chance this could shake things up.

Trainer Battles are FINALLY coming to PokÁ©mon GO!

PokÁ©mon GO Blog:

I know a lot of people who are going to be very, very excited about this.

The RON BURGUNDY Podcast Arrives in 2019

BusinessWire:

I really love both Anchorman movies, so at the very least, this has me for an episode.

I do wonder what an hour of Will Ferrell being allowed to improvise will result in.

Brie Larson to Star in Charlie Kaufman’s Next Film

Deadline:

Based on Iain Reid’s 2016 novel, the plot centers on Jake, who is on a road trip to meet his parents on their secluded farm with his girlfriend (Larson), who is thinking of ending things. When Jake makes an unexpected detour leaving her stranded, a twisted mix of palpable tension, psychological frailty and sheer terror ensues.

I haven’t read the book myself, but Kaufman always makes amazing movies, and Brie is always great.

HBO’s Doing a Show About…The CABBAGE PATCH KID Riots?

Deadline:

Written by Rae, Kittrell and Aniobi, The Dolls, inspired by true events, recounts the aftermath of Christmas Eve riots within two small Arkansas towns in 1983…riots which erupted over, yes,…Cabbage Patch Dolls. The limited series explores class, race, privilege and what it takes to be a “good mother.“

That is certainly a subject to tackle.

Apparently We’re Getting a PRINCE Musical Movie

Variety:

Insiders stress is that the film is not a biopic but an original story with Prince’s classic songs driving the plotline. The Prince estate has been inquiring with studios about such a film, and Universal Chairman Donna Langley worked aggressively to acquire the rights.

Sources close to the situation say the estate and Universal already felt that the biopic angle had largely been covered by Prince’s 1984 star-making film “Purple Rain" and wanted to do something original and outside the box. Meetings have begun with potential writers and producers and execs are hoping the film can be something like Universal’s “Mamma Mia,“ with a completely original story where Prince’s music helps drive that narrative.

I mean, I love Prince.

…but this is a bad idea.

CAPTAIN MARVEL Trailer #2: Time to Go Full BINARY

youtu.be/0LHxvxdRn…

Well, those sure are some impressive space battles hinted at there!

And if you missed it, here’s the poster.

'Eric Vespe's Holiday Gift Guide 2018'

HolidayGiftGuide.Net:

Usually, this comes out on/by Black Friday, but this is always an amazing guide which I add countless items to my personal wish-list from.

Maybe you’ll find something you like as well?

HBO to Bring Stephen King’s THE OUTSIDER To Life

The Hollywood Reporter:

The network has ordered to series an adaptation of the 2018 bestseller starring Rogue One’s Ben Mendelsohn. Jason Bateman will direct the first two episodes of the drama, which hails from studio MRC (also the studio on Bateman’s Netflix drama Ozark). He’ll also serve as an executive producer through his company Aggregate Films, which will produce the project alongside Temple Hill Entertainment.

The Outsider centers on a seemingly straightforward investigation into the gruesome murder of a local boy that leads a seasoned cop and an unorthodox investigator to question everything they believe to be real, as an insidious supernatural force edges its way into the case.

I read the book version of The Outsider over the Summer, during my beach vacation.

It was really great, and the team assembled so far is super promising.

Please don’t screw this up, HBO.

Tumblr To Ban All Adult Content as of December 17, 2018

The Verge:

I’m of a real mixed mind here, gang.

I haven’t really been a regular Tumblr user for years, but even then, I wasn’t the biggest user of the site.

(I did briefly consider bringing this site over there, but I’m glad I continue to own my own chunk of the web.)

On one hand:

On the other:

At the end of the day, like most website changes - time will tell. Will the audience go down? Will advertisers leave or flock? Will there be a Tumblr in 2019, 2020, and so on? You can consider the what ifs for ages - but the team at Tumblr has decided that this is the best step forward. And now the world will show them, positive or negative, if it were the best step to take.

Marvel Studios Developing a SHANG-CHI Film

Deadline:

You thought Guardians of the Galaxy was obscure!

Seriously though, I hope this comes out and rules.

Shame they couldn’t put Iron Fist on the big screen, made into an Asian American character, but this could be cool.

Columbia Makes It So YOU TOO Can Own the EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Crew Parka

StarWars.com:

But one item in particular stands out: that jacket.

It’s a bold blue parka with popping stripes on the upper sleeves, a custom nameplate above the left pocket, and other Star Wars-themed details, including a patch on the left arm and, finally, the coup de grÁ¢ce: a hauntingly cool “Vader in flames" on the front chest. The Empire parka was crew gear (custom-made, branded apparel for those working on a film) before there was crew gear, and Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and director Irvin Kershner all wore it. As such, it’s become a holy grail among collectors. They’re incredibly hard to find, as only a few dozen were made and even fewer are known to exist today.

If you ever liked the jacket’s style or wished you could have something like it, you’re in luck.

Available for $500 here starting on December 7th.

HAPPY DEATH DAY 2U Looks as Surprisingly Fun as the First

www.youtube.com/watch

Maybe lightning can strike twice?

CAPTAIN MARVEL Gets Her Own SH Figuarts Figure

The Toyark:

Looks great, but too expensive for my blood.

(Keep in mind, I have a hard time paying $20 for a Marvel Legends figure.)

'This Artist Reenvisioned Marvel Superheroes in a Traditional Native American Style'

Smithsonian Magazine:

Designed by artist Jeffrey Veregge, the work features all the elements of a great comic book battle—splashy text, panel-breaking brawls, giant villains and daring heroes. But the exhibition, titled “Jeffrey Veregge: Of Gods and Heroes,“ also tells a deeper story about cross-pollinating influences between Indigenous traditions and modern pop culture. Veregge is Salish, part of the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe in Washington State, and the mural uses phrases from his tribal language, S’Klallam, as well as motifs from his tribe to offer his own distinct take on these familiar characters.

So incredibly cool.

Cats and Dogs Living Together: Apple Music Coming to Alexa Devices in December

Amazon:

So, uh…does this mean the end of the HomePod?

…does this mean I have to buy an Echo?!…

oh god.

Tom Hanks in Talks to Play Geppetto in Live-Action PINOCCHIO Remake

Variety:

“Paddington’s" Paul King is directing. Andrew Miano and Chris Weitz are producing. King, Weitz, and Simon Farnaby wrote the most recent draft.

Yeah, that’s pretty much perfect casting.

WarnerMedia, Fresh Off of Killing FilmStruck, to Move Forward with Confusing Three Tiered Streaming Platform Because Why Should Things Make Sense?

Variety:

Look, just tell me if it will be cheaper to go all-in with this than say, separate products for The Criterion Channel and HBO Now.

First Trailer for RUNAWAYS Season 2

youtu.be/8Y2T3SOlb…

Really dug the first season. Looking forward to more!

I Love this SUPER MARIO BROS Piranha Plant Puppet

ThinkGeek:

Which is good because this embiggened puppet could probably swallow our former office corgi Rolo whole. (Imagine the little guy with a puppet twice that size.) Give this fearsome Super Mario baddie a spot in your personal greenhouse. This puppet version needs only your hand to thrive - no water or food. But maybe don’t wear overalls around it, just to be on the safe side.

If you’re not so much into a Piranha Plant, maybe a Donkey Kong will do for you?

DEAR EVAN HANSEN Coming to the Big Screen

Deadline:

Shockingly, this is going to happen well before the phenomenon of Hamilton.

The Ultimate Gaming Onesie’ Hits Japan

Kotaku:

Click through for photos, including a hell of a last photo.

The Director of BAO Is the First Woman to Helm a Full Length Pixar Film

Deadline:

About time.

DC and Warner Bros Moving Forward With BLUE BEETLE Movie

The Wrap:

Mexican-born writer Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, who wrote Universal’s “Scarface,“ has been tapped to write the screenplay. Dunnet-Alocer also wrote the upcoming “Miss Bala" remake for Sony.

Smart move by WB/DC here. Focus on characters and experiences which make your universe stand out, versus playing “Follow the Leader".

BLADE RUNNER Animated Series Coming to Adult Swim

The Hollywood Reporter:

The cable channel has partnered with Alcon Television Group and anime streaming outlet Crunchyroll to produce Blade Runner — Black Lotus, a 13-episode series inspired by Blade Runner 2049, the sequel to Ridley Scott’s 1982 classic.

This could be really awesome.

Does this mean it would air on Adult Swim, then stream on Crunchyroll? Or some sort of simulcast?

The awesome news is, with Shinichiro Watanabe producing, there’s a chance that this will be similar to the great prequel short for 2049 he did.

CONSOLE WARS to Come to TV as a Mini-Series

Deadline:

Console Wars is a really great read, perfectly encapsulating the video game war which enraptured the playgrounds of my generation. It should make for a great television series.

(I was a Sega fan, myself. Ironic, given how much of a Nintendo fan I’ve grown into being.)

I am hoping that this is sort of a kinder, gentler, funnier Halt and Catch Fire.

STAR WARS: GALAXY OF ADVENTURES Brings STAR WARS to a New Generation

youtu.be/_wsHRyLWg…

StarWars.com:

Debuting on the all-new StarWarsKids.com and the Star Wars Kids YouTube channel on November 30, the first six shorts combine original dialogue, music, and sound effects with bold new animations, and fun and educational add-ons designed to help older fans, parents, and other mentors to welcome the kids in their lives to explore the galaxy far, far away. Additional shorts featuring fan-favorite characters will debut in December, with regular releases following in 2019.

I can’t wait to show these to my niece!

Netflix Announces Live-Action COWBOY BEBOP Series

twitter.com/NXOnNetfl…

twitter.com/NXOnNetfl…

So, we got Watanabe, which is cool.

Chris Yost writing is a nice get.

But unless they’re bringing on Yoko Kanno, I have some serious reservations.

YouTube Pulling Back on Original Programming

The Hollywood Reporter:

The Google-owned platform is expected to scale back its scripted output beginning in 2020, a source with direct knowledge of the company’s plans tells The Hollywood Reporter. The move comes as executives plan to double down on YouTube’s ad-supported business by making all future originals free to its 2 billion users, regardless of whether they pay $12 each month for subscription service YouTube Premium.

On one hand, I will now get to watch Cobra Kai, Bodied and Kedi for free.

On the other, this feels like the first major casualty of the content wars. Shame.

Mondo to Release an INCREDIBLE Batwing Poster Tomorrow

Mondo:

This poster will be available alongside the record on Wednesday (11/28) at NOON (CT) via mondotees.com.

If I didn’t just buy that Spider-Man: Homecoming poster…wow.

Craig Drake outdid himself.

Here Come Two INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE Spinoff Movies!

The Hollywood Reporter:

Joaquim Dos Santos, known for his work on cartoon series Avatar: The Last Airbender and more recently, Netflix’s Voltron series, has been tapped to direct the sequel.

At the same time Lauren Montgomery, who also worked on Voltron and co-directed animated movies Batman: Year One and Superman/Batman: Apocalypse for DC, is in negotiations to helm an untitled Spider-centric project that will gather the female heroes in the Spider-Man universe of characters in one adventure. Bek Smith, who wrote episodes of CBS show Zoo, will pen the script.

Wow, that is incredibly confident!

I’ve had high hopes for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse since its first trailer, and this tells me that those hopes may be well served. Can’t wait for December 14th!

THE GRAND TOUR Returns to Netflix in January

youtu.be/-7USlC956…

I have to be honest - I haven’t been as regular a watcher of The Grand Tour as I’d like, especially given that I was/am a big Top Gear fan.

Sure, part of my excuse is that it took until last year for Apple TV to get an Amazon Prime Video app, but really, I should catch up, especially for as beautiful as this show is in glorious 4K.

Now, with the first trailer for Season 3, I know when I need to catch up by. January 18, 2019.

WALKING DEAD’s Robert Kirkman Signs Unique International Deal for New Post-Apocalyptic Series 5 YEAR

Deadline:

Robert Kirkman’s Skybound Entertainment has inked an agreement with Entertainment One for the series based on an idea by the TWD EP of the final five years before a fatal meteor hits the Earth, I’ve learned. The two companies will co-produce and eOne will handle the financing and distribution for 5 Year.

Here’s what’s interesting about it:

So, if I’m getting this right - 5 Year will have unique versions for different countries - the version of 5 Year you watch in the US will be different than the one in Japan, then the one in India, etc. But, all of them will sync up to a specific timeline of what’s going on in the world in that time.

It’s a bold move. I wonder how it will work out?

Netflix to Make a Bunch of Animated Events’ Based on the Books of Roald Dahl

youtu.be/loV0N4m6A…

Coming Soon:

Pretty cool! Gonna be weird to see how Charlie and the Chocolate Factory animated series lines up with the rumored Wonka reboot over at Warner Bros, but overall, I’d love to see how these turn out.

Turns out Jameela Jamil is…Good

The AV Club:

Go ahead, Tahani. You’re doing the good work.

’Exclusive: The Pentagon’s Massive Accounting Fraud Exposed’

The Nation:

The best people, folks. The best people.

Remember this when they give tax breaks. Remember this when they defund the arts. Remember this when they look to defund Medicare and Social Security.

I (And Super Art Fight) Will Be A Part of the 2019 Polar Bear Plunge!

Super Art Fight:

Since this is Giving Tuesday, we wanted to officially announce our participation in the 2019 Plunge, and issue the challenge to the SAF Army - JOIN US OR DONATE!

You can donate to my page directly here, or you can join the Super Art Fight team (or donate to us a whole) here!

Netflix Announces A Hell of an Anime Lineup for 2019, Including the Streaming Debut of EVANGELION

Engadget:

It’s not the only anime classic coming to Netflix either, as there’s a brand new Ultraman movie and a series based on the manga 7 Seeds on deck in April. Rilakkuma and Kaoru is a stop-motion animated show about a woman with a stuffed bear as a roommate, while Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac takes place in modern day as warriors fight to protect the Greek goddess Athena.

Well, well, well…looks like a new generation gets to become aware of Shiji’s Fucked Up Mecha Adventure.

I dunno if it will hold up for me now as a 34-year-old man as it did as a 14-year-old teenager, but I’ll give it a spin for nostalgia’s sake, at least.

Teaser Trailer for Disney’s ARTEMIS FOWL Adaptation Hits Online

www.youtube.com/watch

I know nothing of the franchise. Not read a page. But I know that the Radiohead remix used here is pretty dope.

Super Art Fight (and more importantly, Jamie Noguchi) featured in Washington Post Magazine

The Washington Post:

A DJ cranked up electronic music, and stage lights burned to life. Where the gear for a band would normally sit, a large wall of white paper dominated. Metal buckets filled with fat markers hung from either end. Fans corralled into what would have been the mosh pit for a better view of the night’s event: the live drawing competition known as Super Art Fight.

Self promotion and all, but I think this is an instance where blowing one’s own horn is well deserved.

Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson has put together a piece which really gets to the core of why, ten years later, we’re still putting on Super Art Fight shows, why it connects to people, and what makes it really special. It also puts a much needed spotlight on my dear friend and business partner Jamie Noguchi, someone who I feel incredibly lucky to work with and learn from as we go up and down the roads together. Doesn’t hurt that I’m quoted a few times in here too.

And those photos from AndrÁ© Chung are way dope too.

Beaming over here. Beaming.

A Look at the WIZARDING WORLD (Harry Potter/Fantastic Beasts) Cafe in Japan

SoraNews 24:

To commemorate the occasion, the world’s first two Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts themed cafes have been unveiled, and the only place you’ll find them is in Japan.

Very cool! Just a shame about the movie they’re connected to.

I wonder why we don’t do anything like this really in the States? I’d definitely go to an Avengers cafe in a heartbeat.

Disney’s Thanksgiving Surprise: Our First Look at Jon Favreau’s THE LION KING

youtu.be/4CbLXeGSD…

I wondered if we’d see a first look at Avengers 4 or Star Wars: Episode IX over the holiday, but instead, we got a peak at what could reasonably be the biggest movie of the Summer - even with strong competition - Jon Favreau’s photo-realistic remake of The Lion King.

Though short, we get a glimpse of the iconic “Circle of Life" sequence from the film, and honestly, I got goosebumps. This is going to make all the money.

And if you didn’t feel old enough, good news: The Lion King will hit theaters just in time to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the original.

Hey, there’s a poster too. Enjoy.

BUMBLEBEE to Get Early Screenings on December 8th

Coming Soon:

Fans who participate in this one-day-only event will get to see the film on the big screen nearly two weeks before it opens nationwide on December 21st. Tickets will be on sale for the prevailing price at participating locations, and each admission includes a ticket to the movie, bonus content and a Transformers: Tiny Turbo Changers Movie Toy from Hasbro, while supplies last. Showtime will be at 7:00 p.m. at all participating locations.

Much like with Aquaman, I assume Paramount must be happy with how the final filmed turned out to be willing to do these early screenings.

Margot Robbie Reveals the Full Title of BIRDS OF PREY on Instagram

www.instagram.com/p/Bqaj4sh…

Is that an intentional Birdman riff, or just where we’ve landed?

LEGO Reveals a Slue of New LEGO MOVIE 2 Sets

The Brothers Brick:

These look great. I’m really into the Mad Max aesthetic for the new movie.

Everything Remains Awesome in this New Trailer for THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART

youtu.be/cksYkEzUa…

What’s better than One Chris Pratt? Two Chrises Pratt.

Update: A very Star Trek: The Motion Picture poster has arrived too!

Movie Studios Wish to Shorten the Home Release Window in 2019

Variety:

For the past decade, no issue has incited bigger battles than that of theatrical windowing, the industry term for the length of time a movie appears exclusively in cinemas. Studios argue that they need to be able to release films on home entertainment platforms earlier as a way to combat piracy and capitalize on expensive advertising campaigns publicizing a picture’s debut in theaters. Exhibitors counter that a shorter window could cannibalize ticket sales and encourage consumers to skip the multiplexes, and wait to see a movie when they can rent or buy it. As it currently stands, most theatrical releases are not available in the home until roughly 90 days after they premiere in multiplexes.

I hate to say it, but as an avid viewer of films on my Apple TV, for as much as I love the theatrical experience…uh, bring it on?

Amazon Japan to Offer a Massive Box Set of SUPER SMASH BROS ULTIMATE Amiibo

Polygon:

Good luck if you want to get one.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Burger King Japan Has a Whopper of A Whopper

Kotaku:

The special Whopper goes on sale November 29 in Japan, which is “good meat day.“ It’s not a national holiday, but a pun. November 29 is 11-29. The eleven looks like the Japanese “ii" (いい), meaning “good.“ The numbers “2” and “9” are “ni" and “kyuu,“ which sounds like “niku" (肉), the Japanese word for “meat.“

I’m shocked that we in the States didn’t come up with “Good Meat Day" first.

One Final AQUAMAN Trailer

youtu.be/2wcj6SrX4…

Is this enough to get you in theaters this Christmas for this new, rock-star version of Arthur Curry?

New THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2 Trailer Focuses on Chloe the Cat

youtu.be/rLIHj45S1…

Now, imagine going through this with two cats. This is my life.

#FastFoodArmsRace: KFC Canada Covers Chicken Tenders in Potato Chips, Calls It Food

Chew Boom:

Lay’s Bar-B-Q Tenders feature the brand’s crispy chicken tenders coated in a batter made with a blend of the Colonel’s recipe and Lay’s Bar-B-Q potato chips. Bar-B-Q? That’s what Lay’s calls their Barbecue flavor in Canada.

Well, it’s an idea.

’We Finally Know How Wombats Produce Their Distinctly Cube-Shaped Poop’

Gizmodo:

Wombats are kind of obsessed with their own poop.

Now I am too. Wow.

I Was Featured on the Sweet Setup

The Sweet Setup:

Want to see how my computer is setup? Check out this interview on one of my favorite websites, The Sweet Setup. Between this and their sister-site, Tools and Toys, these pages are must reads, so being featured is quite nice.

ONCE UPON A DEADPOOL Trailer: I Don’t Know Why This is a Thing, But Here It Is

youtu.be/PCf03KXyz…

I get that this is for a good cause and all, but this should really just be a DVD extra.

Amazon Prime Members Can See AQUAMAN a Week Early

Business Wire:

This worked really well for Jumanji last year, but I’m not sure if this is for the same type of audience. Jumanji skewed for families, while Aquaman seems to aim older.

Some Thoughts on FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD, or, The Problem With Prequels

Warning: The following article contains considerable spoilers from Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them and its sequel Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Read on accordingly.

Folks, I’m not what you’d call a hardcore Harry Potter fan.

I don’t know what house I’d be filed into, as I didn’t see the point in signing up for Pottermore to do so.

I’ve read all seven books, enjoyed them greatly - even had a regular thing of reading each new book within about a day of release, for books 4-7.

Really dig the movies! Revisit all eight pretty regularly, even with their common reappearance on cable as of late.

But I don’t have the depth of knowledge of many of my friends. I don’t remember every name of every obscure headmaster at Hogwarts, or legendary wizards dark and light. But I think I do OK.

That said, when JK Rowling and the team at Warner Bros announced they were revisiting the Wizarding World, I was excited.

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, sure it was a text book in Potter-proper, but my mind raced with the potential. And when it was said that the film was going to take place in the Roaring Twenties? Even cooler. That’s an era, a moment which is so rarely encapsulated in film, let alone in a big time blockbuster film franchise.

The trailers hit, photos arrived from Entertainment Weekly, and I was enamored with the visual style - incredibly arresting. I was in.

And then the first movie hit…and it was kind of a mess.

We had the story of a lovable, strange wizard in Newt Scamander - one who had the love of incredible, magical creatures, many in his briefcase - and during a trip to New York City, they all got out.

Sounds like a possible Indiana Jones romp, or maybe even a Doctor Who episode. Appropriate, given that Eddie Redmayne seemed to be channeling - intentionally or not - Matt Smith’s Doctor.

What made the movie so strange, however, was that this family friendly romp was juxtaposed with a very grim story of evil wizards on the rise, a caustic wizard government in the United States, and the lengthy abuse of a powerful wizard (Ezra Miller’s Credence) - one which caused him to lash out with immense destruction.

The two seemed incongruent, as if JK Rowling - writing a screenplay for the first time - had two stories in her heart, and didn’t know which to pursue. One for the families which loved Harry Potter, one for the teens who grew up and wanted something more mature. But these were not chocolate and peanut butter - the opposites did not attract.

Sure, we had unexpected highlights, such as the romance between the muggle (or “no-maj", as we in the states cringingly call them) Jacob and mind-reader Queenie, but it just was a movie that didn’t work in the end….something no greater personified than a brilliant villainous performance from Colin Farrell, turning out to be Johnny Depp in disguise, in a moment that could not have occurred at a worse time.

One would have hoped that this would lead to a lengthier time of consideration and thought, trying to build out a greater story…but alas, a five film franchise, greenlit before the first even hit theaters, is a beast which must be fed.

The end result of the race to film number two - Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald hit theaters this weekend, and sadly, it seems not a single lesson was learned here.

The plot, what best I can summarize of it, is as follows:

The story which follows is as stilted and convoluted as the breakdown above. Sure, it’s a gorgeous movie - Philippe Rousselot’s cinematography is out of this world, David Yates (who apparently has decided his career IS wizard films from now on) directs the shit out of it, and the costumes are beautiful - but it’s ultimately hollow, because JK Rowling does the greatest sin any writer can do: she becomes convinced her ideas are great just because they’re related to her ideas.

The end result of the above is as follows - after 2 hours and 15 minutes of gorgeous magic, brilliant CG, and little plot movement (the Hogwarts flashback is cool though), this entire movie is revealed to hold two plot points of weight: Credence - believing that he’s Leta Lestrange’s long-lost/presumed-dead brother, is, as it turns out, Dumbledore’s long-lost/presumed-dead brother. And now I guess Dumbledore and Grindelwald (who are hinted as being lovers in the past in a way so subtle that I’m thinking people uncomfortable with their sexuality just consider them as “Super Good Bros!“) are going to fight in Fantastic Beasts 3: Still Beastin’.

All of the above is only “interesting" because each element somehow ties into Harry Potter ephemera. Everyone is only important because their last names are those which are important. And it all sort of ties back into Harry’s journey. Yeah, I guess it’s about Newt, but he does a lot of standing around…and the onus in the next film doesn’t even involve him being active.

In his 2007 album Werewolves and Lollipops, comedian Patton Oswalt has a track - the brashly titled “At Midnight I Will Kill George Lucas with a Shovel" - where he discusses the greatest sin of the Star Wars prequels. I’ve embedded it below:

www.youtube.com/watch

As he says here - I don’t need to know why I like the things I like. I don’t need these tales to tell me why I liked Harry Potter. I don’t need them to tie so directly to the world I know. I need them to expand on that world. And two films out of (good lord) five have done nothing but make the world infinitely smaller.

The primary poster for the film (below) has a bizarre tagline: “Who Will Change the Future?“

We already know what the future holds. Dumbledore wins. Voldemort rises. Harry leads the change that ends the dark/light battle for good (for now). There is no change in that future…and unfortunately, after walking out of The Crimes of Grindelwald, there’s no change in the future of moviegoers either.

The Wizarding World has infinite possibilities. This film shows that in the hands of JK Rowling, unfortunately, those possibilities have already been accounted for.

I Found the Best Burger Place in America. And Then I Killed It.’

Thrillist:

Five months later, in a story in The Oregonian, restaurant critic Michael Russell detailed how Stanich’s had been forced to shut down. In the article, Steve Stanich called my burger award a curse, “the worst thing that’s ever happened to us.“ He told a story about the country music singer Tim McGraw showing up one day, and not being able to serve him because there was a five hour wait for a burger. On January 2, 2018, Stanich shut down the restaurant for what he called a “two week deep cleaning.“ Ten months later, Stanich’s is still closed. Now when I look at the Stanich’s mug in my office, I no longer feel light and happy. I feel like I’ve done a bad thing.

An incredible read about burgers, articles, and the unfortunate affect that publicity can have in this world.

It’s Optimus Prime! It’s a Watch! It’s Awesome!

Engadget:

Very cool. That 29,000¥ price tag though, that’s a bit much for my tastes.

Paramount Eyes Chris Pratt to Re-launch...THE SAINT!?!

Deadline:

Does anyone have a strong fondness for The Saint? My vague memory of it is “Val Kilmer wears a wig.“ Incorrect?

Jeff Lemire’s SWEET TOOTH Ordered to Pilot by Hulu

Deadline:

I love this comic. I would’ve never in a million years expected this. I am excited.

CASTLEVANIA Producer Announces NOT a ZELDA Series, Instead - It’s DEVIL MAY CRY

IGN:

I know a lot of people were hoping for The Legend of Zelda here, but the idea of a Devil May Cry series - and somehow, it crossing over with Castlevania - is pretty cool.

The Criterion Collection to Live On With Its Own Streaming Service, Launching in Spring 2019

Criterion:

Well, if you loved the curated programming we’ve been doing with our friends at FilmStruck, we have good news for you. The Criterion Collection team is going to be carrying on with that mission, launching the Criterion Channel as a freestanding service in spring 2019.

Tremendous news.

You can sign up to be a charter member - one of the first to get the service - here.

YOUNG JUSTICE Season 3 Has a Release Date and a Plot

youtu.be/WXnWaCKXy…

January 4, 2019. And we’re going to Apokolips.

Enough for you to sign up to DC Universe?

Facebook Has a Patent To Get Even Worse

Buzzfeed News:

Burn it the fuck down.

And yes, this would include Instagram photos.

General Mills Opens a Website Begging Hollywood To Make Movies About Its Cereal Monsters

Work With the Monsters:

We’re calling all filmmakers, actors, agents, writers, producers, animators, tastemakers, dealmakers, movers and shakers.

We want to work with you to bring great stories to life. From mythical fables to magical journeys. Fairy tales to folk tales. Cliffhangers to nail-biters. Heroic sagas to cosmic battles. Binge-worthy dramas to historical epics. Blockbusters to indies. Serials to sequels.

Together, let’s captivate the hearts and minds of teens and adults.

This isn’t a contest. This isn’t a pitch for free ideas.

We humbly submit this brief to you, Hollywood.

General Mills is thirsty for the Fruit Brute cinematic universe and don’t care who knows it.

Paramount Shacks Up with Netflix for a Multi-Film Deal

Deadline:

“Our priority is to expand our role as a major global content supplier,“ Gianopulos said. “As such, we’re exploring various new revenue streams in addition to our traditional theatrical releases as a producer of first-run films and television for other media platforms.“

The wind of change has arrived.

Microsoft To Release Diskless Xbox One in 2019, Institute Disc-to-Digital Program

Thurrott:

The Scarlett devices are Microsoft’s next-gen consoles and are not expected until 2020 but in 2019, the company is planning to release a disc-less console. And if this is making you nervous because you have a large collection of physical discs for your current Xbox, Microsoft has you covered.

In addition to the new console, there will be a disc-to-digital’ program that, as the name states, turns your physical games into digital downloads. The idea is that you can take your disc to a participating retailer (like the Microsoft store) and trade in your disc for a digital download.

As someone constantly looking to reduce the amount of clutter in his life, I hope this is successful so that Sony and Nintendo have to match it.

I’m kinda wishing I went digital-only this gen. Especially on the Switch.

’Tetsuya Nomura Says Final Fantasy VII Remake Is Progressing Well’

Kotaku:

“That was not official info,“ Nomura told Famitsu. “As I said at E3, development is progressing favorably.“ However, he went on to say that Square Enix’s PR is currently focused on KHIII, but after that, it will focus on Final Fantasy VII Remake so he asked folks not to worry and to wait a bit more.

Sure it is, Nomura. Sure it is.

I’m going to chalk “Final Fantasy VII Remake is going well.“ alongside “Kingdom Hearts III is a game that is coming out", “Imagine Dragons is a band people enjoy" and “NBC’s Chicago Shows are real, and have viewers" as entertainment stories which just aren’t true.

SNL Producers and Cast to bring ALIEN NEWS DESK to Syfy, which is basically Weekend Update, But Animated and With Aliens

Deadline:

I find Will Forte and Heidi Gardner incredibly funny.

This seems…odd.

Chip Zdarsky to Take Over DAREDEVIL with Artist Marco Checchetto

Marvel:

Awesome. Of course, now all I can think of is Zdarsky’s hilarious “How to Draw…“ cover variant for Daredevil.

Animation Studio Aardman Sells Itself To Its Employees

The Guardian:

Peter Lord and David Sproxton, who founded the UK’s biggest animation production company while still at school, are set for a multimillion-pound payout as part of the deal, under which they will together continue to own a quarter of Aardman Holdings, the company’s parent group.

Brilliant idea. Wish more companies did things like this.

Sony to Not Appear at E3 2019

Variety:

The news was buried inside the Entertainment Software Association’s announcement of the 2019 show that quoted competitors Nintendo and Microsoft.

Between this and Sony dropping their PlayStation Experience event, I wonder - are Sony resting on their laurels and aiming with the idea that good games will win out over hyped press conferences, or is there something going on behind the scenes where they can’t support these sorts of events?

Apple & A24 Enter Multi-Year Agreement

IndieWire:

This is fantastic.

A24 is a studio whom, no matter what, I pay attention to what they release.

I’m on record as an Apple nerd.

This makes me extremely pleased.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Arby’s Delivers The Most Arby’s Sandwich of All Time With The Arbynator’

Chew Boom:

The Arbynator features the brand’s signature thinly sliced roast beef topped with Curly Fries, cheddar sauce, Arby’s sauce and Horsey sauce on a sesame seed bun.

The sandwich, dubbed as the “Most Arby’s Sandwich Ever Made,“ will be available in classic, double and half-pound varieties. The double Arbynator features twice the amount of roast beef than the classic, while the half-pound version boasts the most roast beef of the trio.

Goddamn. That’s kind of everything one would actually enjoy about Arby’s in between a bun.

And thankfully, not one of those awful onion buns. Don’t @ me.

A New Trailer for Tim Burton’s DUMBO is Here to Break Your Heart

www.youtube.com/watch

There’s a new poster, too!

that cg is too good, imo

BAD ROBOT Has Six Movies On the Docket, And Wants To Tell The World About Them

The Hollywood Reporter:

But on Wednesday, the banner, which is in production on Star Wars IX, announced six big-screen projects from up-and-coming filmmakers that are in development. The projects are not yet set up at a studio.

Cool to see projects both from Megan Amram and Blair Butler in the mix!

SILICON VALLEY Not To Return Until 2020, And Its All BARRY’s Fault

TV Line:

An HBO spokesperson confirmed the postponement, citing executive producer Alec Berg’s busy schedule as the reason. “As Alec is a showrunner on both Barry and Silicon Valley,“ the rep explained to TVLine, “the schedule was structured to allow Alec to wrap on Barry before starting work on Silicon Valley.“

Stands to reason!

By the by, I do think wrapping up Silicon Valley this season would be a good move - Pied Piper got to where we needed it to go, and unfortunately, truth is becoming stranger than fiction.

Breakdancing Comes to PlayStation 4 With FLOOR KIDS

youtu.be/WZM2N69rQ…

PlayStation.Blog:

What a cool idea for a video game!

The Story of WWE’s Paige Comes To Life in FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY

www.youtube.com/watch

Get that paycheck, Nick Frost!

Seriously though, Paige is an odd bird to do a bio-pic on.

She’s not even thirty, and her time as a major star was unfortunately cut short this year due to a neck injury, but with one of the more unique backgrounds in professional wrestling, I could see people being surprised by how much of her story is actually real.

HARRY POTTER: WIZARDS UNITE to Hit Mobile in 2019

www.youtube.com/watch

If Pokemon Go taught us anything…this game is going to make a boatload of money next year.

Look for people acting like wizards en masse next Summer.

Life is Hell: Paramount Greenlights a Movie About Unboxing

Deadline:

The plot centers on a mischievous 11-year-old YouTube star who unboxes her father’s secret safe as a stunt for her channel and unleashes the treacherous Puck and his band of evil tricksters on a small town.

Stop, the Planet of the Apes! I want to get off!

Multiple Series of George RR Martin’s WILD CARDS Coming to Hulu

The Hollywood Reporter:

The streamer, sources say, is near a deal to secure rights to Wild Cards, the multiple-book series edited by Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin. Hulu and Universal Cable Productions reportedly have been looking to bring an adaptation to television in what would be a multiple-series pact.

Sources say Hulu and UCP are on the cusp of opening a writers room that would create a Wild Cards universe for the streamer. The two series will be written by Andrew Miller (The Secret Circle), who has an overall deal with UCP. Melinda Snodgrass, Vince Gerardis and Martin are all on board to executive produce what could be multiple Wild Cards series.

I have no attachment to the property, but I’m just going to make the obvious joke and ask if we should expect both series to air before The Winds of Winter finally hits shelves?

NETFLIX VS THE WORLD: A Documentary About Netflix, Being Funded On Kickstarter, Before Showing Up On….Netflix Maybe?

www.kickstarter.com/projects/…

Seriously though, if this ends up on Amazon Prime or Hulu instead, it’s going to be very funny.

Netflix Goes For Prestige with ROMA

youtu.be/6BS27ngZt…

All I’ve heard about this movie is how damn great it is.

Definitely going to see if it’s playing in a theater near me, but if not, I’ll see it in December on Netflix!

Yet Another Trailer for the Ever-Delayed ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL

youtu.be/cislZ9S0o…

I have to say, the more they delay this movie, the more accustomed to those weird eyes I become…

…enough where I wonder if this was the plan all along.

Damn, you pulled a fast one on us all, Fox!

Key and Peele join TOY STORY 4 in this new teaser

www.youtube.com/watch

This is absolutely fantastic.

Demi Adejuyigbe at the 2018 XOXO Festival

youtube.com/watch

It’s hard to properly put into words how much I admire, enjoy, relate and commiserate with internet person Demi Adejuyibe’s tremendous speech from the XOXO Festival earlier this year.

It’s truly a brilliant encapsulation of the modern creative mind, and I’m not sure that someone has ever more elegantly put my own anxieties and struggles into words. And the son of a bitch is 7 years younger than me.

Can’t recommend this more. Click play, friends.

Stan Lee Passes Away, Age 95

TMZ:

We’re told an ambulance rushed to Lee’s Hollywood Hills home early Monday morning and he was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. We’re told that’s where he died.

Sadly, much of the focus on Stan in recent years has been on the weirdness surrounding him, his family, and his estate.

But even with that, you can’t take away that his efforts - supported by countless incredible artists and creatives (even those who he didn’t necessarily give the proper credit to), were the foundation for what we know as modern comic storytelling.

A quick bit here, a personal Stan Lee story.

A few years back, we at Super Art Fight were guests at Awesome Con, a convention in Washington DC. In turn, we were staying at the same hotel as the other, more notable guests - including Stan Lee.

On the Saturday night, a group of us were gathering together in the lobby, going to head out for dinner. As we waited for the rest of our crew, Stan arrived at the hotel, along with his handlers.

It was in that moment that Stan Lee became real to me.

Stan Lee has, for his entire career, had an incredible image of that as a big comic book carnival huckster - always peppy, always exited, always with the right turn of phrase.

In this moment, he was an old man, getting help to his hotel room so that he could rest.

The iconography melted away. He was a real live human being.

We forget about that sometimes.

Stan - thank you for your efforts in creating the content of my childhood. But thank you also for that reminder that, at the end of the day, we’re all just human.

Hopefully you’ve reunited with your beloved Joanie. Excelsior.

Mystery Science Theater 3000 is Back on Netflix This Thanksgiving, with THE GAUNTLET

youtu.be/WdBCpnqFN…

I love the homage to the yearly Turkey Day marathons. Heck yes.

Nintendo Brings the Fun To Your Living Room Decor in Japan

SoraNews24:

I really love the throw pillows with blankets inside, and the incredibly clever Piranha Plant slippers.

DETECTIVE PIKACHU Trailer Brings PokÁ©mon to the Real World - With Mixed Results

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1roy4o4tqQM&amp;feature=share

Some of these designs are nightmare fuel. But damned if I don’t wanna hug Pikachu.

’Artist Laurent Durieux Breaks Down Every Poster in His New Mondo Show’

/Film:

Austin’s Mondo Gallery is playing host to Durieux’s latest gallery show, titled “The Art of Laurent Durieux Part Two", which opens today and runs through November 17. We got in touch with Durieux and he supplied us with the inspirations behind and origins of every print on display and for sale at the show, including posters for Planet of the Apes, Ghostbusters, Apocalypse Now, The Shining, and more.

Worth checking out not just to see every poster in the show — which are universally great — but to hear insight from Durieux on each piece.

Will Farrell to Return to the World of Fashion in Gus Van Sant’s PRINCE OF FASHION

Deadline:

The project is based on Pulitzer Prize-winner Michael Chabon’s GQ article, “My Son, The Prince of Fashion,“ which follows the reporter’s visit to Paris Men’s Fashion Week with his 13-year-old son. In the article, Chabon tells a heartwarming story of his son’s passion for a world beyond his years, from meeting his fashion idol to experiencing a week of high-fashion runways, at the end of which he finally feels like he’s found “his people.“ When the article was originally published in GQ, it became an internet sensation and was nominated for a “National Magazine Award.“

Here’s a link to the original article.

Good to see Farrell stretching the more “serious" muscles again.

’The Alamo Drafthouse and RZA are opening an awesome kung fu bar on Staten Island’

AV Club:

Designed like a Chinese temple, The Flying Guillotine will have everything you’d expect, like themed cocktails, kung fu movie trivia nights, a ton of posters and memorabilia you can buy, and—get this—a free video store.

Sometimes, I can’t touch the original headline, so I just bring it over in quotes.

This is one of those occasions.

I never thought I’d say this, but I need to go to Staten Island. Definitely recommend that you click through to the AV Club link to see the virtual tour of the bar’s design.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Chicken & Waffles Arrive at KFC TODAY!

Chew Boom:

Look for them to be available in sandwich and platter forms.

Sounds tasty to me! KFC really is doing great things with their limited-time-offers.

John Boyega and Letitia Wright to join up for HOLD BACK THE STARS

Deadline:

Published last year by Simon & Schuster, the book revolves around a man and a woman who revisit memories of their love affair on a utopian Earth while they are trapped in the vast void of space with only 90 minutes of oxygen left.

The Internet is hyped.

Extended Look at MORTAL ENGINES Gives the Movie a Hard Sell

youtu.be/s-Q-wgosf…

I’ve been intrigued by this movie since the first teaser last year, but it’s clear that audiences need to see a little bit more before they sign on for the new Peter Jackson-produced flick.

So, if you want to know more about Mortal Engines than you’ve seen in the prior trailers, click play above.

And now UGLYDOLLS are getting a movie for some reason

youtu.be/qjoomsFNg…

…yep, that’s a trailer for a movie, alright.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Potbelly Celebrates Thanksgiving with Seasonal Treats

Chew Boom:

Hmm. Sounds good! Break em down for me.

Mmm.

…all I can imagine is some bored employee slapping a full slice of pie into a blender and hatefully pureeing it up.

The TOY STORY 4 Teaser Trailer Arrives. Meet Forky.

www.youtube.com/watch

Looks like we’re going existential for this one!

Your official synopsis:

Hits theaters June 21, 2019.

A Look at the Visual Design of INCREDIBLES 2

Josh Holtsclaw:

A very in-depth, very cool look at much of the visual design and aesthetic appeal of Incredibles 2.

I rewatched the film over the weekend, and while the movie does not reach the highs of the first, the level of detail - as demonstrated in the work catalogued in this post - leads to a world that feels lived in and lively.

Tremendous work by Josh and the rest of the Pixar team.

Mondo Brings Danny Elfman’s BATMAN Score to Vinyl

Pitchfork:

Goddamn, I used to listen to this score all the time as a kid.

The Killian Eng artwork is a dream.

Disney’s Streaming Service Has a Name: Welcome Disney+ In 2019!

/Film:

This is a great info dump of everything happening with Disney+.

Among the highlights:

Sounds pretty promising!

Vine 2.0 to Launch as Byte in Spring 2019

Engadget:

I sure hope that Byte brings some of Vine’s silliness and whimsy back to the web, versus being, say, I dunno, 6 second shots of white supremacy.

Chris McKay to Direct JONNY QUEST Movie

The Wrap:

Does this mean that the Nightwing movie is off?

The iMac Reborn in Adorable Toy Form

MacRumors:

I just want to hug the darn thing.

SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE Gets An Extended Sneak Peak

BEAT SABER Comes to PSVR on November 20th

PlayStation.Blog:

Beat Saber is coming to PS4 on November 20, bringing the thrilling rhythm experience right into your living room. You won’t want to put it down.

This is the closest I’ve come to considering buying PSVR.

Laika Returns With MISSING LINK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM5VC7nCv_Y&amp;feature=share

Laika has never missed. Always deliver.

I’ll be there for this one.

FINAL FANTASY XV Resigns, Planned DLC Cancelled

US Gamer:

This has got to be a bummer for the Final Fantasy fans.

With the lengthy development tracks of this and Kingdom Hearts 3, aligned with the director’s seemingly sudden departure, I have to ask: what the hell is happening at Square?

Netflix Developing 5 Anime Series, Including a PACIFIC RIM Spin-Off

IGN:

SHIT YEAH!

…huh.

It has to at least be better than Uprising, right? RIGHT!?!

Grant Morrison to Bring His Ideas to Television - Starting With THE INVISIBLES

Variety:

Morrison’s newest project with UCP will be developing and writing his long-running comic series “The Invisibles" for television. Set in 2020, the series follows an elite international cell of occult freedom fighters dedicated to the creation of a better world for everyone by any means necessary.

It’s about damn time.

Mondo Releasing Awesome New Posters for ANNIHILATION Tomorrow, November 8

Mondo:

Holy shit, these are amazing.

Here’s the variant:

If I didn’t just grab the Spider-Man: Homecoming poster, I’d consider this drop, as Annihilation is one of my top movies of this year.

Greg Ruth is on my radar now, to boot.

That BREAKING BAD Movie? It’s a Sequel, Starring Jesse

/Film:

And his suffering isn’t over yet. /Film has learned that the newly announced Breaking Bad movie will be a sequel set after the events of the series finale, following Jesse as he blazes a trail away from that horrifying finale.

Oh man, my joking suggestion is coming true!

First Trailer for THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2

youtu.be/pKLGUuJft…

I was just having a conversation with my dude Ross about the filmography of Illumination Animation, and how their movies are neither great nor terrible - they deliver an expected quantity of decent. Just clever enough by half, just well animated enough, that you can neither fault them nor absolutely fall in love with their work.

The Secret Life of Pets 2 looks to be more of the same, even if I chuckled at the cat gag.

Props for replacing Louis CK with Patton Oswalt, too.

FOR THE CHILDREN, A Wu-Tang Clan Documentary to Hit YouTube November 9

PowerPic: A Clever Wireless Charging Photo Frame From Twelve South

Twelve South:

$80 might be a little much when you can get a comparable stand from Anker for $20 (we have three in our home, one each on my wife and I’s nightstands, one in my office), but props to Twelve South for thinking outside of the box and delivering a clever way to introduce technology to a piece of household decoration.

GRIS Coming to Nintendo Switch on December 13th

youtu.be/kFrs1tGy_…

This release date announcement trailer is the first glimpse I’ve had of Gris.

Game looks gorgeous. Goddamn.

Here’s a longer reveal trailer:

www.youtube.com/watch

BREAKING BAD to Return in Movie Form

The Hollywood Reporter:

Jesse Pinkman: Super Spy

I’d be there day one.

Netflix Announces Impressive Animation Lineup

Coming Soon:

The six all-new animated projects include CG (Kris Pearn’s The Willoughbys), 2D (Nora Twomey’s My Father’s Dragon), and stop-motion (Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio). The programming is designed to meet the tastes of every member of the family, from preschoolers (Rajiv Chilaka’s Mighty Little Bheem) to kids (Craig McCracken’s Kid Cosmic) to parents and their children together (Jorge Gutierrez’ Maya and the Three), for families everywhere.

Really a stunning mix, especially given the talent involved. (Glen Keene! Craig McCracken!)

The question is: how will it stand up to the work being produced by Disney, Pixar, Dreamworks, Illumination, and so on?

The SMASH BROS ULTIMATE DLC Fighters Have Been Selected

Gematsu:

“Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s DLC line-up is now complete,“ Sakurai said in a tweet. “This time the selection was made entirely by Nintendo. I decide if we can create a fighter based on their selection, then come up with the plan.“

So, who do you think it is?

MEN IN BLACK and GHOSTBUSTERS to Team Up...in Board Game Form

IDW Games:

Currently under development, Men In Black/Ghostbusters: Ecto-terrestrial Invasion will be a miniatures loaded board game featuring the world’s foremost protectors teaming up to take down a threat unlike any they have faced before. Making up the Ghostbusters team will be Peter Venkman, Egon Spangler, Ray Stanz, and Winston Zeddmore, and the MIB team will consist of Agent J, Agent K, Agent L and Zed. While these two teams have faced unearthly threats before, the strength of the Ecto-terrestrials is nearly overwhelming, but that doesn’t mean there can’t be a little friendly competition.

Looks fun! Great art too. Derek Laufman is a great pick.

First Look at Adidas X GAME OF THRONES Collaboration

Kicks On Fire:

Pretty rad sneakers! Look forward to seeing the full collection.

SHREK and PUSS IN BOOTS on the Reboot Train

Variety:

Universal Pictures has tasked Meledandri with finding some fresh story lines to reintroduce the lovable ogre and the sword-wielding feline to new generations of moviegoers. One thing the animation guru doesn’t want to mess with is with the vocal performances. Part of the popularity of “Shrek" is attributable to a voice cast that included Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas, and in a lengthy profile in Variety, Meledandri says he would like to get the band back together.

If it is going to be with the original voice casts - or at least try to be - does this make them reboot-quels? Legacyquels?

All I know is, that like an ogre, this story has layers.

PG-13 DEADPOOL 2 Officially Announced as ONCE UPON A DEADPOOL

Deadline:

The highlights of the plan:

Apparently all the new footage was shot in one day.

Will you be going?

#FastFoodArmsRace: Pringles has a Thanksgiving Dinner Trio Ready For You

Chew Boom:

For the first time, Pringles is offering fans a chance to snag three of the brand’s limited-time favorites from last year’s Thanksgiving flavors: Turkey, Stuffing, and Pumpkin Pie.

You can pick them up for $15 tomorrow at 11:59PM EST here.

They’ll sell them until they sell out. Good luck!

So, Apparently We Were Supposed to Hear about DIABLO 4 on Friday

Kotaku:

Huh.

Hindsight being 20/20 and all, bet they wish they did that.

AMC Theatres Announces Long-Term Viability Plan for A-LIST

Just received an email as an AMC A-List Subscriber which pretty much shows that AMC is willing to take the risks and make things work which MoviePass, sadly, did not.

Here goes the highlights:

Awesome. Glad to hear that. Not that I thought it was going away, but still cool.

The ability to share a credit card over A-List accounts is awesome, but if, say, my wife wanted to get an A-List account and buy tickets on the app at the same time, that’s not doable.

Not an issue in my household, as I’m the big moviegoer, so only I am signed up, but, yeah.

OK, so, come July 2019, when my subscription hits the one year mark, I have to pay $2 more a month to keep it.

That’s…not crazy at all. Especially considering seeing a Dolby Cinema screening is about $18.

And there’s the transparency bit which MoviePass so desperately needed.

I know, AMC is a massive company owned by a massive conglomerate - but this type of upfront discussion, openness and friendliness is incredibly appreciated and sadly rare.

The above may kinda sound like an ad for AMC or A-List, but frankly, as someone who loves going to the movies, I proudly endorse their product - but if things change, I’ll let you know. Just as I did with MoviePass.

FORTNITE Adds Purchasable NFL Uniforms

Engadget:

I’m not a Fortnite player. I’m not a football guy.

…but, there’s little greater example of the level of cultural ubiquity of Fortnite than this.

This is really going to continue to drum up the cash for Epic, isn’t it?

’My Chinese-American Aunts Voted For Trump’

The Nib:

Just wanted to take a moment to link out and share this comic published on The Nib today by my friend and Super Art Fight cohort Jamie Noguchi. Not just because I’m proud of him, but because of what it has to say.

Go read. Now.

(SPOILERS) So, What Are They Doing with Rick from THE WALKING DEAD?

Deadline:

Considering the word the other month about The Walking Dead becoming an evergreen franchise, this is actually a really logical, smart move from AMC.

…wonder if they’d put these in theaters or just air on the network?

SPIES IN DISGUISE Trailer Takes an Unexpected Twist

youtu.be/C5YeOc0N6…

If you haven’t already seen this…I bet you won’t guess what the gimmick is.

Enjoy.

Now You Too Can Be Eaten Alive by Beloved Nintendo Character Kirby

SoraNews 24:

No matter how much you love Kirby, you have to admit that he sure does suck. I’m not trying to put the guy down or anything, it’s just that that’s his form of attack: sucking up enemies and taking them into his adorably chubby body in order to absorb their powers.

While that might sound like a terrifying fate for his foes, the atmosphere of Kirby’s various video games are invariably as cuddly and cute as the Nintendo star himself. So maybe being sucked up and swallowed by Kirby actually isn’t such an unpleasant experience? I mean, it looks pretty comfortable here.

Yep, this is the perfect pillow for the modern age.

Consume me alive, beloved childhood character.

JJ Abrams Wants a Studio to Pay Him All the Money to Do Whatever He Wants

Variety:

People familiar with the matter say Abrams’ ambitions are vast and that the prolific producer, writer, and director behind “Alias" and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens" is on the hunt for the kind of super nova-sized deal that would encompass films, television series, digital content, music, games, consumer products, and theme park opportunities.

Game respect game here.

Abrams is one of the few truly bankable names in Hollywood in this day and age. He’s proven his ideas have the worth.

NASA X Vans Clothing Line Is Super Rad

Vans:

Tempting across the board.

My only gripe?

Why are those slip-ons only in kids sizes?

DIABLO Comes to Mobile With DIABLO: IMMORTAL

Polygon:

So long that this isn’t an IAP-filled mess, I’m tentatively excited about being able to play Diablo on my iPhone and iPad.

OVERWATCH Gets a New Hero in Ashe

Polygon:

youtu.be/G8LbOecWG…

I really love the character design. Can’t wait to see how she plays!

New Trailer for TRUE DETECTIVE Season 3

www.youtube.com/watch

This looks good!

Looks Like GLADIATOR 2 Is in the Works

Deadline:

Not a movie I expected to ever get a sequel.

I really enjoyed Gladiator, but I don’t know the value of this project besides, well, people know the name of Gladiator.

Ewan McGregor In Talks to Join BIRDS OF PREY as Black Mask

The Wrap:

Another bit of awesome casting. DCEU Phase 2 > Phase 1, by far.

Also interesting as it would put him opposite his current partner, Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

The Obamas First Project for Netflix? Mocking Trump

Deadline:

The Fifth Risk, which hit shelves on Oct. 2 from W.W. Norton, follows the chaos and mismanagement that ensued in the departments of Energy, Agriculture and Commerce in the handoff from President Barack Obama to President Donald Trump. Lewis spoke with a number of federal workers from the Obama administration who worked in the Departments of Energy, Agriculture and Commerce. The previous administration created briefing books for the next staff, but those who showed up on behalf of the new administration were greatly unqualified and far and few between.

Oh man. The tea, it is strong.

Nintendo Goes In-Depth into Smash Bros Ultimate in Latest Nintendo Direct

www.youtube.com/watch

BusinessWire/Nintendo PR:

Really an incredible showcase of all the work Sakurai and company have put into the game.

You can watch the full Direct above, but in addition to what is mentioned in the pull-quote, Nintendo also announced that purchasers of the game will get a free playable fighter, that of the Piranha Plant from Super Mario Bros..

In short, it ruled, game rules, everything’s awesome.

Disney’s Streaming Service to Host Falcon & Winter Soldier Mini-Series

Variety:

Variety has learned exclusively that Malcolm Spellman has been tapped to write a series featuring the two superheroes, which is currently in development at the streamer. It is the first of the proposed Marvel limited series to find a writer.

Sounds great to me!

I loved Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie’s interactions in Captain America: Civil War, so I could be into a whole series themed in that regard.

Naomi Watts to Lead GAME OF THRONES Prequel

Deadline:

That’s a big name to put on the show. Makes me wonder if she’ll get Sean Bean’d…

Seth Rogen and Michael Keaton to Bring the Crazy Story of John McAfee to Life

Deadline:

If you’ve never read the original Wired article inspiring this film, it’s an absolutely worthwhile read - incredibly enthralling.

If the movie is a tenth as entertaining, this will be an awesome movie. Keaton and Rogen on board is a great start.

CASTLEVANIA Producer Rumored to Be Working on LEGEND OF ZELDA TV Series

The Wrap:

If true: amazing news.

The Director of IT to Take on ATTACK ON TITAN

Variety:

Muschietti will direct a feature film adaptation of “Attack on Titans" for Warner Bros. The studio finalized a deal with Japan-based publishing company Kodansha on Monday.

This could be huge worldwide.

Titan is beloved, and if Muschietti has the same level and respect for this franchise as he did for It, we could be in for a treat.

Sony Announces Full List of PlayStation Classic Games

PlayStation.Blog:

I think it’s a decent lineup, though I would’ve picked Resident Evil 2 over Resident Evil: Director’s Cut.

That said, I have no interest in buying one.

NIER’s 2B Joins the Cast of SOULCALIBUR VI

Kotaku:

Do I know anyone who has picked up the new Soulcalibur? If so, how is it?

The first two are two of my favorite video games ever.

It’s EVANGELION VS. GODZILLA at Universal Studios Japan

SoraNews 24:

This summer, though, for the first time ever the King of the Monsters will do battle with the lord of the angsty anime robots, in Evangelion vs. Godzilla.

Sadly, this is just an amusement park attraction.

Bet it’s going to have some awesome Japan-only merch though!

MST3K Alums Hit Baltimore This Weekend

The Parkway Theatre:

If you’re a Mystery Science Theater 3000 fan, this is a can’t miss show. The shows are tonight and tomorrow night, with tickets starting at $23.

I’ve always wanted to see a live-riff event like this. May need to sneak out this weekend!

Digital Movie Service FILMSTRUCK To Close at the End of November

Variety:

The FilmStruck business will cease U.S. and international operations on Nov. 29, 2018. A Turner rep declined to comment on how many employees will be affected by the closure, or provide info on how many employees work on FilmStruck.

This sucks.

Paramount Wants to Reboot CLUELESS

Deadline:

The movie is quite early in development, so details are minimal in regards to whether it’s a fresh new take for the millennium and if older characters will be reprising their roles.

Getting a writer of GLOW is a good move. But remaking the movie…not really feeling it.

Natalie Portman is a Pop Star in VOX LUX Trailer

youtu.be/zxdVqr4hm…

Reminds me of what Elisabeth Moss is doing in Your Smell, but this looks really good never the less.

Oscar-bait, sure, but still looks good.

New STAR TREK Animated Series Coming to CBS All Access From RICK AND MORTY Writer

IGN:

Interesting choice. I’m guessing it will be both: a. weird and b. outrageous.

Looks Like We’re Getting TEEN TITANS vs. TEEN TITANS GO!

From the extras of the Teen Titans Go! To The Movies DVD comes this video:

youtu.be/AwDIZT3Xb…

Yep, that’s all we’ve got.

Not sure if it’s a movie, a mini-series, an episode or what, but I do know that people are passionate about Teen Titans.

Personally, I missed the show when it aired, but have found myself an avid fan of Teen Titans Go! (it’s the perfect hotel room show).

What say you, nerds?

#FastFoodArmsRace: Japanese Department Store Brings a Full VENOM Menu To Life

PR Times:

ヴェノムをモチーフとしたコラボメニュー(フード・ドリンク)の提供、小道具や場面写真の展示、フォトスポットパネルの設置など、ファン垂涎のイベントとなっております。"»åº—舗により内容が異なります

Or, Google Translated:

Providing a collaborative menu (food / drink) with motifs of Venom, display of props and scene photos, installation of photo spot panels, etc. It is an event of fan sprinkling. The content varies depending on the store.

What is on the menu to celebrate the modern-day Tom Hardy classic?

Hey, Nordstrom, your cafe needs to step it’s goddamned game up.

Nerf, Like All Cool Kids, Is Really Into FORTNITE Now

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpW9EqpAUvA/?utm_source=ig_embed

One had to figure that after making Overwatch guns, this was next.

Yet Another Trailer for HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD

youtu.be/qLTDtbYmd…

Still looks like beautiful animation, but I feel like this one won’t be taking the narrative risks that the second installment did.

HARRY POTTER’s Severus Snape is getting a SH Figuarts Figure

The Toyark:

I can hear my friends getting their credit cards ready.

That likeness is uncanny.

Legendary To Adapt MY HERO ACADEMIA Into A Live-Action Film

Deadline:

My friends who know manga/anime better than I do say that this is kind of an obvious layup for a successful adaptation.

Based on what I see at conventions, there’s certainly a fervent fanbase. They just gotta stick the landing.

DiCaprio and Scorsese to Reteam for KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON

Variety:

Imperative Entertainment has attached Scorsese to direct and DiCaprio to star in the feature adaptation of “Killers of the Flower Moon,“ the New York Times best-selling book by David Grann.

The story is set in 1920s Oklahoma and revolves around the Osage Nation, who were the richest people per capita in the world, after oil was discovered under their land and then they were murdered, one by one. As the death toll rose, the newly created FBI took up the case and unraveled a chilling conspiracy and one of the most monstrous crimes in American history.

While I thought Shutter Island was a miss, every other Scorsese/DiCaprio team-up has been aces, and I don’t see any reason why this won’t continue the trend.

Richard Linklater to Write and Direct Movie on the Life of Bill Hicks

Collider:

This has the potential of being incredible. I wonder who gets the nod to play Hicks?

Trailer for THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL Arrives, Is Still Super Charming

youtu.be/76bH1b9Xr…

It’s crazy how many Emmys the first season won, but this season looks as thrilling and beautifully produced as the first.

New York Times Takes a Look at The Cult of Kit Kat in Japan

Tejal Rao for the New York Times:

This article is filed under “Extremely My Shit".

DEADPOOL Writers Eye PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN Reboot

Deadline:

Those first two did rule pretty hard.

Maybe we can finally drop Johnny Depp this time?

Rumors Abound for the Marvel Attractions Coming to Disney California Adventure

WDW News Today:

A nice breakdown of what’s coming.

I, of course, am most excited about the Spider-Man attraction, but I bet that Avengers-coaster is going to blow minds.

Steve Carell To Join Apple’s Jennifer Aniston / Reese Witherspoon Newsroom Drama

The Hollywood Reporter:

The Office alum has booked the male lead in Apple’s untitled morning show drama starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. The casting, which marks Carell’s first series regular role since he wrapped the NBC comedy in 2011, marks the latest high-profile star to join an Apple series.

Sweet deal. Look forward to watching it for free on all my iStuff.

Target Leaks Full LEGO OVERWATCH Line

The Brothers Brick:

That D.Va and Reinhardt set rules!

Intellivison Is Back Because What the Hell Why Not

Variety:

I mock, but this idea of their plan to continue to exist as a platform is clever:

Accessibility, and the lack of wallet-preying DLC is a clever approach.

But I don’t know if it will be enough to stand against the big three, or mobile gaming.

WONDER WOMAN 1984 Pushed Back To June 2020

The Hollywood Reporter:

Wonder Woman 1984 will now open June 5, 2020, the same corridor in which the first movie debuted in 2016. The sequel previously was set to open Nov. 1, 2019. Star Gal Gadot tweeted the news Monday.

Smart move pushing it back to Summer, plus, y’know, gives Warner Bros more time to plot out the DC Comics Cinematic Universe.

Guillermo del Toro to Write and Direct PINOCCHIO for Netflix

Collider:

I know that del Toro has been wanting to make Pinocchio for years. Very cool to see the project land at Netflix.

Makes me wonder about that Fox Searchlight deal, though.

UBER Now Wants To Provide You On-Demand Employees

The Verge:

I know, they’re not the first here, but goddamn this sounds dystopian.

 

Post Malone & Swae Lee - "Sunflower" (From the SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE Soundtrack)

youtu.be/ApXoWvfEY…

Say what you will about the song, the video gives us another look at the gorgeous animation in-store for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

I was just lamenting over the Summer how much of a shame it is that with the drop of the cultural cache of MTV, we no longer have the big music videos for Summer Blockbusters (I hold a proper video for Metric’s “Black Sheep”  / Scott Pilgrim vs. the World would’ve been huge), but we get sort of a throwback here.

Can’t wait for Christmas!

AND INTRODUCING Is The Craziest Movie Art Book Ever, And You Can Help It On Kickstarter

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jezburrows/and-introducing-a-journey-to-the-end-of-the-cast-l

Kickstarter:

From ‘Exuberant Mourner’ (Analyze This) to ‘Arthritic Cowboy’ (Who Framed Roger Rabbit), ‘Sad Woman with Horns’ (Guardians of the Galaxy) to ‘Man Shot in Head 3’ (The ABCs of Death), movie history is replete with curiously named characters bringing up the rear of the cast list. And Introducing is a survey of those bit-part and background character credits, organising them into almost 100 categories—some predictable (men, women, bystanders, henchmen) and some more surprising (screaming characters, toothless characters, characters whose names are simply their one line of dialogue).

An accompanying essay will explore the people and circumstances responsible for these credits, featuring input from screenwriters, casting directors, and actors.

This looks like an absolutely silly and crazy gift for the movie lover in your life, which may also just be yourself.

First Look at Gameplay from THRONEBREAKER: THE WITCHER TALES

youtu.be/R1ybg6OT3…

Yep, that looks like another winner for CD Projekt Red.

It’s no Cyberpunk 2077, though, but what is, really?

Apple’s Next Product Event is Set for October 30th

The Verge:

I’ll be watching the details on those new iPad Pros closely.

LEGO Unveils an Unbelievable Pop-Up Book Set!

The Brothers Brick:

This is an incredibly imaginative set. I adore it.

And Now…Facebook Lied About Video Views

The Mercury News:

A group of small advertisers suing the Menlo Park social media titan alleged in the filing that Facebook “induced" advertisers to buy video ads on its platform because advertisers believed Facebook users were watching video ads for longer than they actually were.

That “unethical, unscrupulous" behavior by Facebook constituted fraud because it was “likely to deceive" advertisers, the filing alleged.

And because of this, numerous, well-staffed, brilliant websites started “pivoting to video" because of this, and took away the livelihood of many hardworking people.

Can we start, collectively, as “the cool kids" stop cross-promoting our shit to Facebook? And just make everything cool, awesome, and worthwhile not live there?

First Trailer for Joe Cornish’s THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING

www.youtube.com/watch

Joe Cornish is, again, the director of Attack the Block. Yeah. I know, right!

Give this trailer a chance - it starts cheesy, but shows some serious promise.

I could see this delighting the whole family.

Reminds me of a whole slue of 80’s family-friendly action movies I watched as a kid.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Burger King Unleashes the NIGHTMARE KING for Halloween

Burger King PR:

Buck. Freaking. Wild.

Doubt it’d give me nightmares any more than The King normally does, though.

Somebody DeepFake’d Harrison Ford into SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY

youtu.be/ANXucrz7H…

This is equal parts wild, impressive, and absolutely horrifying.

Imagine someone with a budget being able to pull this off?

Nicole Kidman Looks Incredible In This First Trailer for DESTROYER

www.youtube.com/watch

Holy shit - looks like another great film from Annapurna Pictures at a time where they need one.

Extra props for the use of Godspeed You! Black Emperor.

MTV’s THE REAL WORLD To Return on Facebook

Engadget:

I feel super old reading this.

Amazon Announces New Kindle Paperwhite, With A Killer Feature

Amazon.com:

Now waterproof, so you’re free to read and relax at the beach, by the pool, or in the bath.

I have the first-gen Paperwhite, and honestly, it’s one of the most perfect pieces of tech I’ve ever owned.

Incredible battery life, focuses on doing one thing perfectly (and does it), and in turn…I’ve never really needed to update it.

…that waterproof option though… that’s enticing.

THE WATERBOY is Apparently 20 Years Old, and In Turn, Needs an Adidas Capsule Collection

/Film:

The folks at the sportswear company Adidas think the movie deserves a special celebration by debuting limited edition gear inspired by the South Central Louisiana State University Mud Dogs, the losing team who becomes champions thanks to the fierce tackling of Bobby Boucher. It’s the 20th anniversary, so we can’t hold anything back now.

Surreal.

Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen Passes Away, Age 65

CNBC:

Allen passed away Monday afternoon in Seattle at 65 years old, Vulcan said. His sister, Jody, said he was “a remarkable individual on every level.“

A true trailblazer and titan. Rest in Power.

Big Screen Reboots for TOM AND JERRY and SCOOBY DOO Are on the Way

Variety:

Sources tell Variety that Warners and Warner Animation Group (WAG) are in negotiations with “Shaft" helmer Tim Story to direct the new “Tom and Jerry" live-action/animated hybrid. The studio has also brought on Chris Columbus as creative producer on the new “Scooby-Doo" animated movie.

I’m surprised it’s taken this long for Tom and Jerry to get a proper film version.

Winamp to Return With New Version In 2019

TechCrunch:

Proof positive that you cannot kill the greats.

First Image From HBO’s WATCHMEN Series Revealed

www.instagram.com/p/Bo9ivLp…

I dunno who that is, so this is already a curveball. Fun!

The SHERLOCK Team to Bring DRACULA to the BBC and Netflix

Variety:

Variety was the first to report that Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat were working on a new take on the Bram Stoker story last year, and that Sue Vertue’s Hartswood Films was set to produce. U.K. pubcaster the BBC has now commissioned three 90-minute installments. Netflix will carry the show in most markets outside the U.K.

Well, so long as this is closer to the first season-or-two of Sherlock and not the less-great recent seasons, I’m excited to see what they have planned.

The Verge Gets an Exclusive Hands-On with Adobe Photoshop for iPad

The Verge:

Sounds promising!

Palm Returns with the Weirdest Goddamn Phone I’ve Ever Read About

The Verge:

So to review: it’s a tiny phone to keep you from using your big phone, but it could do all the things your big one can do if you wanted (but you shouldn’t because the whole idea is to get you to be a little less obsessed with your phone). It’s like a phone for your phone. And Steph Curry helped design cases for it so you can strap it to your forearm during workouts. There are Kate Spade clutches for it, too.

…who the hell is this for?

I get the idea of things such as The Light Phone, but considering that they both share the same flaw (you need another phone to use the phone which you’ll use less), what’s even the point?

Mondo Celebrates 10 Years of Marvel Studios In This Awesome Gallery Show

io9:

The show consists of 11 new posters, along with six variants, for Iron Man, Thor, all three Captain America films, both Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange, The Avengers, and Spider-Man Homecoming. If you’re a fan of the MCU, even if you don’t love these posters, you’ll be amazed at what that team has accomplished in the last decade.

My personal favorite is the Spider-Man: Homecoming poster by Sara Deck (below).

Of note, there was an unapproved Black Panther poster shown at the gallery event itself (you can see it in the photos from Birth.Movies.Death’s wrap-up).

Now, am I going to try to fight the bots for that Spidey poster?

Disney’s Live-Action ALADDIN Gets a Teaser Trailer. Emphasis on the Tease.

youtu.be/9g5knnlF7…

Yep, those are visions and sounds from what a live-action Aladdin could be.

I’m not really feeling any of the Guy Ritchie appeal here, but maybe his touch will come alive in later, fuller trailers?

Ryan Coogler Signs to Write and Direct BLACK PANTHER 2

The Hollywood Reporter:

Anything else would be a joke.

When you’ve got the right team behind the scenes, make it happen - no matter how long it takes.

The Nintendo Switch Is Reborn As…THE DREAMCAST 2

Kotaku:

I mean, I’ve felt like this is what the Switch brings to gaming, and the paint job is absolutely gorgeous. I can’t imagine the cost for it, though.

The Wu-Tang Origin Story is Coming To Hulu!

Pitchfork:

FUCK YES.

I hope the show goes way off-the-rails and mixes absolutely absurd fiction with the true story of their formation and rise.

Give me Shaolin temple training mixed with demoing their first album.

Boston Dynamics Has Trained Robots to Do Parkour Now

www.youtube.com/watch

This is who will replace us when climate change gets us in about 10 years.

The Plot Comes Together in GLASS Trailer #2

youtu.be/Q7ztHi9ej…

Yeah, this looks like it will demolish the January box-office.

I love hearing the old Unbreakable themes again.

ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE Is the Zombie Christmas Musical You’ve Hoped For

youtu.be/dZ9DDU4R5…

Another movie getting loads of Festival Buzzâ„¢ which I cannot wait to see!

CNBC: The Apple Video Service will Be Exclusive And FREE For Apple Devices

CNBC:

The product will include Apple-owned content, which will be free to Apple device owners, and subscription “channels,” which will allow customers to sign up for online-only services, such as those from HBO and Starz.

That’s certainly a way to keep people locked into the ecosystem.

I already am, but this adds.

Get Ready to Add THE NIGHT COMES FOR US To Your Netflix Queue Next Friday

youtu.be/HfSisHrUT…

That trailer looks good and all, but I’ve heard word out of Fantastic Fest that this movie is basically The Raid x Dead Alive.

Your $10.99 is completely worth it this month, especially with Apostile, Maniac and Hold the Dark in the mix.

The First LEGO Overwatch Toy Goes To This Blizzard-Exclusive Bastion

Blizzard Shop:

About as perfect as you can get in LEGO form for the tranquil murder-bot.

First Details on TOYS R US Relaunch: Welcome Geoffrey’s Toy Box Pop-Ups

The Toy Book:

Barry told The Toy Book exclusively that the company will launch a “shop-within-a-shop" concept, called Geoffrey’s Toy Box, with a prominent regional midwest retailer this November. The concept will feature a train of branded Geoffrey’s Toy Box displays.

I sure hope they have a plan to re-employ former Toys R Us employees at the new locations…

STARDEW VALLEY to Come to Mobile Later This Month!

Stardew Valley Developer Blog:

For a flat $8, this is a no-brainer.

An Android version is coming later this Fall.

BREAKING: James Gunn In Talks to Write and Direct Next SUICIDE SQUAD Movie

io9:

Shots fired.

UPDATE: Updated headline to reflect the tentative nature of the deal.

Remember when DC/WB was going to have Joss Whedon do Batgirl? Not saying there’s nothing to this, but…let’s see how this plays out.

A lot of Suicide Squad seemed like it was trying to ape the Guardians vibe, with the needle drops and ersatz family. Gunn could make this work.

UPDATE 2: Sounds like this is a full on reboot.

twitter.com/Borys_Kit…

And Here’s Ruby Rose as BATWOMAN

Yep! That’s a pretty much perfect Batwoman costume, alright!

We’ll see her pop up in the CW Universe later this year.

You excited?

The Details On The New iPad Pros

9to5Mac has an exclusive write-up on the details for the New iPad Pros.

I can’t really cut a clean section out like I do with most articles, but high-level, here’s what they are:

We’ll see how true these details are soon, but all and all, they underline that my next Laptop probably won’t be a “proper" laptop after all.

Google’s Project Stream, Impossibly, Brings Console Gaming to A Web Browser

US Gamer:

Polygon, The Verge, and Kotaku all posted their thoughts on Project Stream today, which is being made accessible to a select few invitees. Google’s new initiative allows you to stream through a Chrome extension, and is currently only compatible Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.

I know, a link to a bunch of links, but seeing these details in the aggregate really underlines how cool what Google pulled off here.

Between this, the Microsoft news this morning, and those PS5 rumors - I guess in the future, games come to you.

Vespa Unveils Its $7000 Electric Scooter

The Verge:

I want one.

BODIED Brings Rap Battles to the Big Screen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apxOPzcyBts&amp;feature=share

I’ve heard great things about this one. Please tell me there will be a non-YouTube Premium way to watch it…

#FastFoodArmsRace: Lucio-Oh’s Are REAL, Bringing Overwatch to Breakfast

The Junk Food Aisle:

Sonic Vanilla, eh?

Don’t Hold Your Breath for A Female JAMES BOND

The Guardian:

But there is one thing about which James Bond can rest easy: his manhood. Speaking to the Guardian, 007’s executive producer Barbara Broccoli ruled out any Doctor Who-style gender reinvention for Ian Fleming’s super-spy.

“Bond is male,“ she said. “He’s a male character. He was written as a male and I think he’ll probably stay as a male.“

They say that now.

Seeing how the female reboot of Doctor Who brought in the biggest ratings in 10 years, I think it’s worth seeing how these British entertainment icons take to the change…

Full Trailer for HOUSE OF CARDS Season 6

youtu.be/2OdjW2WSf…

Not sure about you, but I can’t wait to see what things Claire Underwood gets into without Frank in the way.

Now GOOGLE Got Hit With A Privacy Breach, And Google+ Gets To Die For It

The Wall Street Journal:

For those who don’t want to deal with paywalls, TechCrunch has a good breakdown.

So…this is where the rubber meets the road regarding privacy, eh?

Sure, “only" 500k users were affected, but the fact that this was known, and not shared, since MARCH is a real bad look.

I do appreciate that their overall response is to just kill off Google+.

Microsoft Reveals Project xCloud, An Attempt to Bring Console Gaming to Any Device, Anywhere

Wired:

Now, on an ironically cloudless early October day, I’m visiting those same Microsoft execs at their headquarters in Redmond, Washington, to see the progress they’ve made. That progress includes a lot of caveats, and more than a little secrecy—but it also makes clear that Microsoft is aiming higher, and achieving more, than what some have thought.

Project xCloud, as the effort is known internally, is a company-wide push that leverages the expertise of a multitude of different teams. It tapped the secretive Microsoft Research division, which works on everything from quantum computing to AR/VR to genomics, to crack thresholds that probably wouldn’t have been cracked otherwise. It harnesses the power and ubiquity of Microsoft’s globe-spanning network of Azure data centers. And perhaps more importantly, it turns the living-room console—an immovable fixture of game culture since 1972—from an anchor into a hub.

I had heard rumors that this was Sony’s big plan for PlayStation 5, so I guess that the Cloud Arms Race is on.

Facebook Unveils PORTAL, A Video Chat Device For Your Home

Venture Beat:

Portal can do group video chat with up to seven people using the Messenger app on smartphones and tablets, as well as other Portal devices. Calls will also include ways to read stories using augmented reality and a platform for third-party developers and partners to deploy AR experiences for kids and adults.

No better time to entrust a company who had a security breach of 50 Million users with video and audio access to your home, right?

Filmmakers The Soska Sisters To Write The BLACK WIDOW…Comic

Bustle:

So, um…why not the movie, Marvel?

Banksy Painting Sells For $1.4 Million, Shreds Itself

The New York Times:

Oh, That Banksy!â„¢

The STAR WARS Streaming Series Has Been Revealed: Welcome THE MANDALORIAN

www.instagram.com/p/BofTUzh…

Dope, right?

But then the first image came out…as did the list of directors.

Via Coming Soon:

Fuck. Yes.

NYCC: Netflix’s SHE-RA Debuts, Looks Fantastic

youtu.be/GsGMkAWB6…

You simply cannot stop Noelle Stevenson.

NYCC: DC Comics Announces WONDER COMICS Imprint, Featuring All Your Favorite Teen Heroes

The Beat:

Considering how well Bendis handled both eras of Ultimate Spider-Man, I’m really excited to see what he can do with Young Justice, one of my favorite comics of the nineties.

I don’t say this often with DC Comics, but I’m beaming with excitement.

Look at how good Patrick Gleason’s art for Young Justice is!

twitter.com/patrick_g…

A New Model of the Nintendo Switch Coming in 2019

The Wall Street Journal:

No clear details, but given the way that Nintendo has refreshed the 3DS line over the years, this isn’t a huge shocks.

The three things which would make me pick up a new Switch:

That’s it.

JON STEWART To Return to the Director’s Chair, and Re-Team With Steve Carrell with IRRESISTIBLE

Variety:

I’m there. Rosewater was terribly overlooked, but a great debut from Stewart behind the camera.

MEGA MAN To Become A Live-Action Motion Picture

Capcom PR:

Joost and Schulman are better known for their work on Catfish.

Certainly a choice for creators, but we’ll see.

Rosie Perez Joins BIRDS OF PREY As THE QUESTION

The Wrap:

Montoya is a detective working for the Gotham City Police Department. Montoya is openly gay, and during The New 52 comics she took on a costumed identity, becoming the Question. The female superhero team-up film will be released on Feb. 7, 2020. Perez joins Jurnee Smollett-Bell and Mary Elizabeth Winstead who have been cast as Black Canary and Huntress.

Awesome get.

Phase 2 of the DCEU continues to sound interesting, if nothing else.

NYCC: First Look at the DC Universe-Exclusive HARLEY QUINN Animated Series

youtu.be/kBBvIyGqQ…

Enough to make you drop $8 a month?

What Is THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING, And Why Should You Care About It?

So, 20th Century Fox released a poster last week for a new movie coming out on March 1st, 2019 titled The Kid Who Would Be King.

This is it:

Looks like a teen in a fantasy world movie, right? Who gives a shit?

Here’s why you should care: This is the second directorial effort from Joe Cornish, who you may remember as the writer of Ant-Man, The Adventures of Tintin…..annnnnnnnd…the director of Attack the Block.

Like so, the list of dozens of Letterboxd users just got one movie longer.

LILO & STITCH Next On Disney’s Live-Action Remake Conveyer Belt

The Hollywood Reporter:

The studio has hired up-and-comer Mike Van Waes to pen the script for the remake that will be produced by Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich of Rideback, formerly known as Lin Pictures. The two are already known in the Disney halls as they working on the high-profile live-action remake of Aladdin.

“Hey, Dan. Did we re-make this one yet?“

“No, not yet.“

“Cool, that’s next.“

I still think, like with all remakes, they should focus on the movies that didn’t work and use these remakes as a bogey.

Treasure Planet, anyone? Maybe a cool, Guillermo del Toro-esq Atlantis?

I’m Starting To Understand Facebook PR

The Verge:

“We recently increased the grace period when you choose to delete your Facebook account from 14 days to 30 days,“ says a Facebook spokesperson. “We’ve seen people try to log in to accounts they’ve opted to delete after the 14-day period. The increase gives people more time to make a fully informed choice.“

Here, I’ll translate:

“After our hack, many of you have started to delete your accounts. Because we don’t want to worry our stockholders, we want to limit how many count as officially deactivated in our Q4 reports.“

Don’t be surprised when this gets extended to 45 days.

So, They’re Making a DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION Movie

Variety:

The project will explore a world on the brink of destruction where the only hope is to unite through the universal language of dance. Stampede will partner on the movie with producers J. Todd Harris and Marc Marcum of Branded Entertainment, and the intellectual property owner Konami, which first introduced “Dance Dance Revolution" in Japan in 1998. The video game, which has released several editions over the past 20 years, utilizes a dance platform or mat so players can use their feet to hit colored arrow notes as instructed on-screen.

We already had this.

It was called The FP and it was wonderfully dumb.

Get a Better Glimpse of THE CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA in this New Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

Yeah, the Riverdale kids are gonna LOVE this.

Christian Bale Is Dick Chaney in Adam McKay’s VICE - First Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

Bale really does go all out on physical transformations, doesn’t he?

Also, very interesting to me how Adam McKay has gone from the Will Farrell/SNL guy to being a really acute observer of modern day politics.

Granted, as the end-credits of The Other Guys showed, he was always interested in that.

A Really Awesome Looking HARRY POTTER Video Game Leaked Online

Eurogamer:

The footage first appeared on reddit courtesy of poster VapeThisBro, who claimed he was shown the video as part of some market research. In his words, “do you think a random internet stoner would have the skills and patience to create this video?” I wouldn’t know, but anything is possible.

There are a few mirrors of the leaked video in the Eurogamer post.

This looks like a really cool game. Kinda reminds me of if Bully met Skyrim.

HOLY SHIT TOYS R US LIVES

The Wall Street Journal:

Instead, Toys “R" Us’s controlling lenders—the hedge funds that pulled the plug on the retailer’s reorganization earlier this year—intend to revive business behind the Toys “R" Us and Babies “R" Us brand names.

Let it be known: sometimes your name is enough.

Our First Look at RAMBO 5 Probably Isn’t What You’re Expecting

www.instagram.com/p/BocDkqE…

Given how much the last Rambo ruled, as did Creed, I’ll give Sly the benefit of the doubt, but…

Cowboy John Rambo? Really?

Since There Are Too Many Streaming Services, Piracy is On The Rise Again

Motherboard:

Not a shock.

Basically, once CBS decided they needed to have their own streaming service, and other networks like AMC and ESPN have followed (and others announced plans to follow similarly), I had a hunch this would happen.

I currently am subscribed to Apple Music, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO Now, WWE Network and NJPW World. I may subscribe to the Apple Video or Disney Play services. But I also am in a two-income household.

Gotta go to where the puck is going, guys, not where the puck is.

First one to be the Spotify/Apple Music of Television or Movies gets the money.

Hell, I’d be willing to pay for a Spotify of Television and Apple Music of Movies, separately.

More Than One Wears the Mask in This New SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

I can’t wait for Christmas!

John Mulaney as Spider-Ham is my everything.

UPDATE: There’s a new poster, too! The lack of Spider-Ham is a bummer…

From Driving Babies To Meeting Maria: Ansel Elgort to Star in Spielberg’s WEST SIDE STORY Remake

Variety:

Pulitzer prize winner and Oscar nominee Tony Kushner penned the revival of the 1957 musical, which was originally written by Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim with music by Leonard Bernstein. Spielberg, Kevin McCollum and Kristie Macosko Krieger will produce the movie for Fox. Filming for “West Side Story" is set to begin in the summer of 2019.

I’m not entirely sure why the world needs a West Side Story remake — although Spielberg is an inspired choice to direct — but given than Baby Driver was basically an action-musical to begin with, Elgort is a perfect choice.

BAD BOYS 3 Is Finally Happening

Variety:

Reuniting Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as two of Miami PD’s most infamous officers has taken years to pull off, but a new draft of a script appears to have met with the producers’ approval and it looks as though production on the sequel could begin in early 2019. The plan is for the third “Bad Boys" to be in theaters by Martin Luther King Jr. weekend in 2020. Smith is on board to reprise his role as Detective Mike Lowrey. Lawrence has yet to come to terms, but the comic continues to circle the project.

This is a great time to mention that both Bad Boys films are among my cinematic blind-spots.

I should fix that.

A New Poster For The HELLBOY Reboot Arrives

David Harbour is basically unrecognizable here. Really rad!

(That “Legendary AF” tag line is going to age poorly.)

I’m guessing we’re going to see a lot more at New York Comic Con this week.

Taron Egerton is Elton John in this first teaser for ROCKETMAN

www.youtube.com/watch

It’s crazy how much he looks like Young Elton.

And is that Egerton singing at the end? Doesn’t sound quite like Elton John, which is why I’m asking.

Could be good!

MoviePass Now Tries Just Making You A Subscriber Whether You Like It Or Not

The Verge:

In an email sent to select MoviePass customers who decided not to opt into the company’s revised three-movie monthly plan, first unveiled last month, the company says it’s decided to enroll those people into a new subscription because “we really hope you begin enjoying your MoviePass subscription.“ If they don’t want to be charged for the service, MoviePass is demanding they proactively opt-out of the plan they were enrolled in without their consent by Thursday, October 4th.

Emphasis on the bold.

Ugh.

Tim Berners-Lee Wants To Save The Web, And More Importantly, Your Information

Medium:

Today, I believe we’ve reached a critical tipping point, and that powerful change for the better is possible"Š—“Šand necessary.

This is why I have, over recent years, been working with a few people at MIT and elsewhere to develop Solid, an open-source project to restore the power and agency of individuals on the web.

I will be watching the development of Solid like a hawk.

This could be absolutely tremendous, or another misguided attempt to build a standard…but I’m hoping for the former more than the latter.

The Creators of BOB’S BURGERS Have a Great New Show With a Great Voice Cast

Deadline:

Yeah, I’m in.

PORTLANDIA Co-Creator to Helm SESAME STREET Movie

Variety:

An inspired choice, if nothing else.

Ferrell and Reilly Are Back as HOLMES & WATSON

www.youtube.com/watch

Doesn’t seem to hit the same manic energy which Step Brothers and Talladega Nights tapped into, but these two have a shared track record which is more hit than miss with me.

We’ll see how this pans out over Christmas.

Ryan Reynolds Will Be A NPC in FREE GUY

The Hollywood Reporter:

Reynolds is attached to star in the project which Levy, the director known for Fox’s Night at the Museum movies (among other titles) and exec producer of Stranger Things, will helm.

Written by Matt Lieberman, the story centers on a background character who realizes he’s living in a video game. With the help of an avatar, he tries to prevent the makers of the game from shutting down his world.

Fun concept! Wonder if it will survive the trip to the big screen?

Fox Completely Revises Release Schedule - Delays to ALITA and DARK PHOENIX, And Welcome…DEADPOOL 2 Again?

Deadline:

OK, that’s pretty weird. I guess that means Alita: Battle Angel needed some additional work.

And I have no idea who the audience is for a 6 month+ old movie which is already on DVD/Digital, let alone a cut-down version.

But not as weird as this…

Just a day and change after releasing the poster and first trailer. Good lord.

What a surreal mess.

Kathleen Kennedy To Remain President of Lucasfilm for 3 More Years

The Hollywood Reporter:

I’m sure that the Internet is taking this news with the standard reserve and relative calm which we’ve so become accustomed to in this day and age.

btw, every Disney/Lucasfilm Star Wars movie has been good-to-great don’t @ me

’SEC: Elon Musk wanted Tesla’s stock at $420 to impress girlfriend with pot reference’

Fast Company:

“We allege that Musk had arrived at the price of $420 by assuming a 20 percent premium of what Tesla’s then existing share price (was), and then rounding up to $420 because of the significance of that number in marijuana culture, and his belief that his girlfriend would be amused by it.“

At this rate, he can instead just enjoy a $69 stock rate.

(Nice.)

50 MILLION Facebook Accounts Hacked

The New York Times:

Fuck.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Mac & Cheese…Candy Canes

Archie McPhee:

Oh, fuck that.

Wait a second.

…what is this?

Yeah, fuck them too!

I Want To Play This Real Life METAL GEAR SOLID Game

SoraNews24:

How much is it to fly to Japan again?

Hayao Miyazaki Goes Digital In New Documentary, NEVER-ENDING MAN

youtu.be/7od_hvrGe…

So cool seeing a legend take on a new format like this.

Segway Returns with HOVERBOARD SKATES

www.youtube.com/watch

Indiegogo:

These look remarkably stupid and incredibly fun.

$369 is too rich for my blood, though.

Robin Wright Takes Over in New HOUSE OF CARDS Teaser

www.youtube.com/watch

Looks good.

LEGO Introduces FORMA, An Experimental, Crowd-Funded Product Line

The Brothers Brick:

You can back the first set, 81000 Koi Model, now on Indiegogo.

I’m surprised that LEGO isn’t using a platform of their own, but perhaps that will come with time.

The DARK PHOENIX Trailer Is Here!

youtu.be/QWbMckU3A…

That’s right. Dark Phoenix is the title. No “X-Men" in there, just a subtle circle around that X.

I guess X-Men: Apocalypse left that bad a taste in the mouth that Fox doesn’t want people to think of it.

I recognize that this movie is kind of a weird appetizer before the series comes home to Marvel Studios, but after this first look, I have to say - I didn’t expect this to feel so much like X-Men: The Last Stand. Those delays and reshoots don’t seem to have fixed much.

On the positive side, a pretty rad teaser poster came out. Dig the Phoenix Force doubling as the X.

Maybe we’ll see more at New York Comic Con next week?

Facebook Is Using The Phone Numbers You Gave for Two-Factor Authentication

Gizmodo:

Jesus Christ. I need to delete my profile ASAP.

BATMAN Artist Norm Breyfogle Passes Away

Comic Book Resources:

When I think of Batman comics from my formative years, I think of the visuals of Norm Breyfogle.

Rest in Power.

BIRDS OF PREY Officially Has Its Huntress and Black Canary

Variety:

Sources tell Variety that Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Jurnee Smollett-Bell have been tapped to join Robbie in the comic-book spinoff, with Winstead playing Huntress and Smollett-Bell portraying Black Canary.

Winstead as Huntress has me excited.

The HELLBOY Reboot Has Been Pushed Back to April 2019

Hollywood Reporter:

The film’s release date has been pushed back to April 12, 2019, Summit Entertainment announced Wednesday. It previously had been set to open Jan. 11, 2019. The new date means Hellboy will open just one week after fellow superhero movie Shazam! from Warner Bros. and DC. That film opens April 5, 2019.

Hard to say if this is good news or bad news - could mean that they need more production time to fix issues with the film, or could prove that Summit feels as if it could compete in a more cramped release-period.

Dear Young People, Don’t Vote

www.youtube.com/watch

Love this.

And in a related bit, it’s National Voter Registration Day.

I try to avoid getting political on here, but…um, you should probably register to vote.

Cards Against Humanity Hacks the Election

Cards Against Humanity:

We identified six districts that we think we can flip from red to blue, and we need your help reaching voters who live there. Give us the address of a voter you know in one of the districts, and we’ll send both of you the all-new Midterm Pack for free. We’ll also throw in a pamphlet that uses logic and facts to manipulate your friend into voting for the Democrat.

If you don’t know anyone who lives in one of the districts, or if you don’t have any friends, you can still buy the all-new Midterm Pack for $5, including shipping.

Seems worth it, IMO.

New Trailer and Poster for CREED II, as Adonis Creed Battles Victor Drago!

youtu.be/u22BXhMu4…

This looks really good, and I was pretty skeptical about a follow-up without Ryan Coogler directing.

And there’s a poster, too!

And if that wasn’t enough, the original Creed is on sale on iTunes today, too! I can’t recommend the original enough.

HAPPY DEATH DAY Sequel Gets a Release Date and a Clever Title

Collider:

I really was surprised by how fun the first Happy Death Day was.

I can’t say that I expect that the sequel will be good - you can only catch lightning in a bottle once - but the name is clever enough that I’ll keep it on my radar.

#FastFoodArmsRace: No More Donuts, Just Dunkin

CNN:

No sir, I don’t like it.

New Teaser for DAREDEVIL Season 3

youtu.be/yIYGyzNUY…

FISK HAS A WHITE SUIT!

FISK HAS A WHITE SUIT!

FISK HAS A WHITE SUIT!

Sony Relents, Allows Cross-Play, Starting With FORTNITE

Kotaku:

A well deserved FINALLY.

Classic CASTLEVANIA Games Resurrected for PlayStation 4

Playstation.Blog:

Symphony of the Night is one of the greatest games of all time. I recommend this bundle on that half alone.

GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF’s Mel & Sue to Become Contract Killers

Radio Times:

This sounds fantastic. How soon can I watch it in the States?

Surprise, Mark Zuckerberg Is Why the Instagram Co-Founders Left

Bloomberg:

I’ll take “Things Which Suck, But Aren’t At All Surprising" for $500, Alex.

Sounds Like We’re Not Getting THE RAID 3

/Film:

Definitely a bummer, but I understand.

Both Raid movies are modern day action classics, but the second did seem to wrap up with everything we needed to see Rama do.

That said, sounds like the Netflix-exclusive The Night Comes For Us, which features much of the same cast, scratches the itch. Will be looking forward to that one.

MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 to Return on Thanksgiving!

The AV Club:

How awesome and appropriate!

Beats falling asleep to a football game.

ALMOST FAMOUS to Become a Broadway Musical

Vulture:

Almost Famous is one of my favorite movies of all time. (I also really need to give it a rewatch.)

I think this could actually work out OK? For the run of “jukebox musicals" as of late, this one is at least justified.

Second Trailer for Jonah Hill’s Directoral Debut, MID90’S

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU5gJGSuelM&amp;feature=share

Like they say: It’s A24, So I’m There!â„¢

Final FANTASTIC BEASTS: CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD Trailer Hits the Web

www.youtube.com/watch

Looks really good, but Johnny Depp sure does sour my excitement.

A Glimpse of What Could’ve Been: Footage From Telltale’s STRANGER THINGS Game Appears

Kotaku UK:

One of the more high profile licensed projects the studio had in the works was a collaboration with Netflix to develop a narrative adventure game based on Stranger Things. As of today we’ve been able to see some footage of the cancelled project thanks to a post on reddit.

Man, I would’ve loved this. Maybe someone can pick up where this left off?

Instagram Co-Founders Leave Instagram

The New York Times:

Nah, probably has nothing to do with their parent company…

Zoe Kravitz to Lead HIGH FIDELITY Streaming Series

Hollywood Reporter:

Zoe Kravitz has been tapped to star in the reboot of the 2000 feature film take on Nick Hornsby’s novel. The 10-episode series is described as a reimagining of the film and book and told from the female point of view. She will take on the role portrayed by John Cusack in the film. Kravitz will exec produce and star as the ultimate music fan and record store owner who is obsessed with pop culture and top five lists.

I like this casting a lot.

Even if it’s a little weird because her mom was a love interest in the original.

The Philadelphia Flyers Now Have a Mascot. What the HELL is it?

Philadelphia Business Journal:

The Philadelphia Flyers on Monday unveiled Gritty — a 7-foot tall, fuzzy, orange creature — at event held at the city’s Please Touch Museum. Other features of the new mascot include googly eyes and a squeaky belly button and hands, along with ability to blow smoke out of his ears.

This is certainly a choice of mascot. Goodness.

SiriusXM Buys Pandora for $3.5 Billion

The Verge:

Related news: SiriusXM had $3.5 Billion?

McFarlane-Esq MAFEX Venom Figure Absolutely Rules

The Toyark:

Oh man. I’d definitely pick this up (and the Spidey to go with it) in a heartbeat. This is the Venom of my mind’s-eye, perfectly rendered in 3D.

New BUMBLEBEE Trailer Is, uh, REALLY Good?

youtu.be/lcwmDAYt2…

Not sure if it’s the Iron Giant-vibes or the flashes of Cybertron which grabbed me, but congrats, Paramount, you’ve gotten me truly excited for a new Transformers movie for the first time in ten years.

This LEGO Apple Park is Unreal

The Brothers Brick:

In a word: Wow.

DEATH STRANDING Continues To Look Like a Fever Dream In New Tokyo Game Show Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

Shit is weird and wild, that’s for sure.

Apple Doesn’t Want Racy Content on Its Video Service

The Wall Street Journal:

I know that Apple has always been somewhat puritan in terms of what it allowed in its stores regarding app content, but considering they sell books, movies, and stream albums with explicit content, I can’t say I understand why they’re applying this to their video service…especially when they’re looking to compete against Netflix, a service which practically flaunts its lack of editorial controls.

These Jeans

Digg:

Get ready for a journey.

Telltale Games Guts Its Staff in Massive Layoffs

The Verge:

Brutal. I’ve heard some not-so-great things about the behind-the-scenes of the company, but I’ve greatly enjoyed their point-and-click, narrative adventures.

Hope everyone of the 225 let go land on their feet.

Marvel Studios Moving Forward With THE ETERNALS

Hollywood Reporter:

Matthew and Ryan Firpo, whose spec script Ruin topped the 2017 Black List, penned the script for the superhero team adventure.

The project features the super-powered and near-immortal beings known as Eternals and a more monstrous off-shoot known as the Deviants that were created by cosmic beings known as Celestials.

Very cool to see a woman of color getting the nod as director.

Also crazy that we may have dueling celestial themed Jack Kirby movies, between this and WB/DC’s THE NEW GODS.

And Here’s THE JOKER in Full Makeup.

twitter.com/wbpicture…

Not feeling it, though it’s better than the Leto look.

H/t to my dude Alex Kazanas - is that John Wayne Gacy’s makeup?

A DIABLO Animated Series Is Making It’s Way to Netflix

Boom! Studios founder Andrew “Andy" Cosby tweeted on Wednesday that he’s in “final talks" to write and show-run the upcoming series from Activision and Netflix. “It’s very exciting and I hope to the High Heavens it all works out,“ he said.

Sounds awesome to me!

Happy September 21st (Con’t.)

youtu.be/CG7YHFT4h…

We don’t deserve Demi. God bless him.

So, Who’s Up for BIRDS OF PREY?

Deadline:

Being considered for the role of Huntress is The Mummy actress Sofia Boutella, Fargo and Cloverfield Lane actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Wolf of Wall Street and How I Met Your Mothers Cristin Milioti, and Margaret Qualley, the latter starring in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and starred in HBO’s The Leftovers.

For Rene Montoya, One Day at a Times Justina Machado is in the mix, along with Vidas Roberta Colindrez. Montoya is a lesbian detective on the Gotham City police force.

In consideration for Black Canary, known for her shrieking cry, are Belles Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Underground actress Jurnee Smollett-Bell.

Very cool choices across the board. Maybe Margot Robbie can steer this ship correctly!

Happy September 21st

www.youtube.com/watch

www.youtube.com/watch

Full credit to the amazing and hilarious Demi Adejuyigbe.

This Anime Trailer for STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE Absolutely Rules

www.youtube.com/watch

I really want a full interpretation in this style now. ASAP.

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross to Score HBO’s Watchmen Series

Jordan Peel to Host/Narrate THE TWILIGHT ZONE Reboot

Hollywood Reporter:

Awesome!

(still not going to get CBS All Access.)

Disney CEO Delivers a Newsworthy Interview, With Updates on Marvel, Star Wars, Streaming and More

Hollywood Reporter:

I think it only makes sense. I want to be careful here because of what’s been communicated to the Fox folks, but I think they know. It only makes sense for Marvel to be supervised by one entity. There shouldn’t be two Marvels.

I made the timing decision, and as I look back, I think the mistake that I made — I take the blame — was a little too much, too fast. You can expect some slowdown, but that doesn’t mean we’re not going to make films. J.J. Abrams is busy making Episode IX. We have creative entities, including Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, who are developing sagas of their own, which we haven’t been specific about. And we are just at the point where we’re going to start making decisions about what comes next after J.J.’s. But I think we’re going to be a little bit more careful about volume and timing. And the buck stops here on that.

All that and more in a very worthwhile read.

Here Comes the Story in the New Trailer for RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET

youtu.be/T73h5bmD8…

No more subtitle for this one - but the flick still looks like a blast to me!

And yes, there’s a poster.

The Official Trailer for DOCTOR WHO Series 11 is Here!

youtu.be/WI3_HrRct…

Jodie Whittaker is growing on me quite a bit as the new Doctor.

#FastFoodArmsRace: McDonald’s Japan Brings Us…Sweet Potato Milkshakes

SoraNews24:

…I’d try it.

BOND 25 Gains Cary Joji Fukunaga As Director, Valentines 2020 Release Date

From the Twitters…

twitter.com/007/statu…

He’s an incredible director, so I feel like the film will rest in good hands.

(Even if I think we totally ended the Craig-era with the last film.)

Betabrand Unleashes a Kaiju Hawaiian Shirt That I Desperately Want To Own

Betabrand:

Hailing from Parts Unknown, these bloodthirsty kaiju are settling ancient beefs once and for all in a wrestling match for the ages. Tokyo, beware!

Oh gosh I need it.

Director Jon Chu Shoots a Short Film on an iPhone XS Max

Wired:

To test the new hardware, we gave an iPhone XS Max to the film director Jon M. Chu. The Crazy Rich Asians director shot a short film for WIRED, and the results are truly special.

I admire when creatives make themselves work within limits.

This really is awesome.

Marvel and WONDER WOMAN Writer Team-Up To Bring Female Superheroes to ABC

Deadline:

ABC has given a production commitment to an untitled hourlong drama from Heinberg, Marvel Television and ABC Studios. Written by Heinberg, it is about female characters with superpowers.

They can consider abandoning Netflix for their shows, but they aren’t going to leave the parent company out of it!

Seriously though, this has potential - I just wonder which heroes are being considered for this series.

She-Hulk as Superhero Action-meets-The Practice could do real well.

AMC Will Not Let THE WALKING DEAD Die

Bloomberg:

The company, which owns the popular zombie-apocalypse series, plans to produce multiple movies and new TV shows based on the graphic novels that spawned the series, according to people familiar with the plans. AMC has talked to several large media companies about partnering on the projects, which collectively could cost several hundred million dollars, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans are still being worked out.

Keep going to that well, guys.

SPACE JAM 2 Officially Moving Forward With Production, RYAN COOGLER to Produce

Hollywood Reporter:

Coogler will produce the Space Jam movie and Terence Nance — who created HBO’s Random Acts of Flyness and directed the experimental film The Oversimplification of Her Beauty — will direct. Production on the Warner Bros. film is tentatively slated for 2019, during the NBA offseason. It will be James’ first starring role after a successful turn as a supporting character in the 2015 Amy Schumer comedy Trainwreck.

Maybe this generation will love this sequel the way mine loves the original.

Breaking News: Ticketmaster Remains a Group of Shitlords

CBC:

Wow. What assholes.

Sony Unveils the PlayStation Classic for the Holiday Season

PlayStation.Blog:

I’ll be honest, these games haven’t “grown old" for me the same way that NES or SNES titles have, so this does not appeal to me as much.

That said - depending on what the other titles are in the list of classic 20, I may be convinced to pick one up. But right now, it’s a pass…especially with the lack of analog controllers!

First Marvel Series In Development for Disney Streaming Service (Loki, Scarlet Witch)

Variety:

Loki makes sense. Scarlet Witch is an interesting choice.

Maybe we can get a Moon Knight series, a’la the Ellis and Lemire runs?

’Twitter’s Chronological Timeline Is Back. Just Wait Until You See How Weird It Is’

Gizmodo:

Come on, Zuck. Do it. I dare you.

Finalists From The 2018 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

Colossal:

Highly recommended to click through to brighten your day.

NETFLIX to Revive AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER as a Live-Action Series

IndieWire:

Key quote from the PR which people should be excited about:

CAPTAIN MARVEL Takes Flight In Her First Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

Hell yes.

Update: There’s a poster now, too!

KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Shows Off The BIG HERO 6 World

youtu.be/LNzxgjIRX…

I guess this really is coming out.

If you needed more proof, here’s the cover art.

CD Projekt Red Announces New Game In The WITCHER Universe

CD Projekt Red:

Thronebreaker is a single player role-playing game set in the world of The Witcher that combines narrative-driven exploration with unique puzzles and card battle mechanics. The game spins a truly regal tale of Meve, a war-veteran queen of two Northern Realms — Lyria and Rivia. Facing an imminent Nilfgaardian invasion, Meve is forced to once again enter the warpath, and set out on a dark journey of destruction and revenge.

Sounds fun! Although, like most, I’m just waiting for Cyberpunk 2077.

Twitter to Bring Back CHRONOLOGICAL TIMELINE

Engadget:

FINALLY

Now, fix your shit, Zuckerberg.

BLADE RUNNER 2049 Coming To Television?

Showbiz411:

And so I’ve been told that the series is being developed right now, although no details are set. It does seem like Rick, his daughter, and maybe K sans snowflakes would form the central family, with lots of possibilities for new characters and old ones. Producers of the film are on the fast track.

Did not expect this.

Loved Blade Runner 2049, and if the success of Altered Carbon on Netflix is any indication, I could see the show taking off.

Hey, Apple…I’ve got a big time sci-fi show for your video service…

CAPTAIN MARVEL Action Figure Images Leak Via Amazon

Preternia:

Pretty much what you’d expect. That Young Nick Fury figure sure is cool though!

SINEMIA Delivers Unlimited Movie Plan for $30/Month

Wired:

And that’s ballgame on MoviePass.

Lock yourself in to one chain for $20/month on AMC, or drop $30/month to see unlimited movies on Sinemia. Makes sense to me.

Bryan Singer In Talks to Direct RED SONJA

Hollywood Reporter:

The X-Men: Apocalypse helmer, who has battled bad PR, lawsuits and continued scrutiny in the post-#MeToo era — none of which seems to have stuck — would take the reins on a big-screen adaptation of the 1970s sword and sorcery Conan the Barbarian comic book spinoff. Ashley Miller, who wrote X-Men: First Class (which Singer produced), is writing the screenplay.

How does this dude keep getting work?

His hot tub parties have been an open secret for ages now.

Take away the good movies he’s made - this is just sad.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Heinz Rolls Out MayoChup’

Chew Boom:

Mayochup sauce is basically a mashup of the brand’s mayonnaise and ketchup in a squeezable condiment bottle.

Oh fuck off, then.

iOS 12: The MacStories Review’

MacStories:

If you read any review of iOS 12, this is the one to read.

The Director of the RAID Returns With Religious Horror and Dan Stevens for Netflix in…APOSTLE

youtu.be/J1JdWOqc9…

Hits Netflix on October 12th. Looks really creepy and uncomfortable, in a good way.

MARY POPPINS RETURNS Finally Gets A Full Trailer

youtu.be/-3jsfXDZL…

I did NOT expect the animation to return!

Second Trailer for THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER’S WEB

youtu.be/jEINTQ2AP…

Between this and First Man, this will be the Fall of Clare Foy, eh?

Here’s hoping that US audiences take to this Lisbeth Salander tale better than the first. Fede Alvarez (Evil Dead remake, Don’t Breathe) certainly is an inspired choice as director.

Details Leak On The Issues With Apple’s AirPower

Sonny Dickson:

The TL;DR version:

This certainly explains why AirPower was nowhere to be seen last week.

I Guess This Is Our First Look at Joaquin Phoenix as THE JOKER

www.instagram.com/p/BnzF1te…

Right then. Okay. Arthur. Cool.

Nintendo Wows Fans With Another Amazing Nintendo Direct

Business Wire:

There’s a lot to take in from tonight’s Nintendo Direct. New Animal Crossing, new Luigi’s Mansion, New Super Mario Bros getting a Switch re-release, Katamari Damacy getting a much needed HD remake, Yoshi looking gorgeous…it was more proof that I should just start directly sending my paycheck to the geniuses at Nintendo.

You can watch the reveals in full here:

youtu.be/CRuHg1dv8…

Forget the new iPhones: Apple’s best product is now privacy’

Fast Company:

Yet I no longer think this is a true statement. I now believe the best product Apple offers is intangible, yet far more valuable than a flagship smartphone. The best product Apple has—and the single biggest reason that consumers should choose an Apple device over competing devices—is privacy.

Thanks to my pal Justo for the heads up on this one. I couldn’t agree more.

First Trailer for Netflix’s THE CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA

youtu.be/Ab_rXrgk5…

Here’s my problem - where the hell is Nick Bakay as Salem?

(seriously though, looks like the Riverdale heads are gonna go apeshit over this one.)

Apple Unveils Apple Watch Series 4, iPhone Xs, Xs Max and XR

Links from Apple Newsroom:

As the leaks foretold, we have…

Personally, were I up right now, I’d probably move from an iPhone 8 Plus to an XS, but I think that the XR might end up being the smartest choice for most.

INHUMAN CONDITIONS Makes The Voight-Kampff Test Into a Fun Card Game

Kickstarter:

Each game has one Investigator and one Suspect. Armed only with two stamps and a topic of conversation, the Investigator must figure out whether the Suspect is a Human or a Robot.

Yeahhhhh, I’ll probably be backing this. Sounds fun!

The Coens Return To Westerns with Netflix’s THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS

youtu.be/_2PyxzSH1…

Yeah, I’m in.

Wait, Warner Bros Is Considering Casting Michael B. Jordan as Superman?

Deadline:

Blink-and-you-miss-it in their coverage of the Cavill story, but this would be buck wild and awesome.

Nintendo Reschedules Their Direct, and Announces The Launch Date of Their Online Service

twitter.com/NintendoA…

twitter.com/NintendoA…

Lots of Nintendo news dropping today! And even more tomorrow.

Wonder what we’ll see?

Henry Cavill is OUT as Superman

Hollywood Reporter:

Wow. Granted, he’s been infinitely more entertaining in his outside Superman roles (Mission: Impossible - Fallout, The Man from UNCLE), but this is a shock.

No Superman, rumored that Affleck is out as Batman, everything’s chaos.

The McElroy Brothers WILL Be In Trolls 2

Vanity Fair:

It’s more than just a clever name of a podcast.

Well done, brothers. Well done.

Mondo To Take On The First Ten Years of Marvel Studios in Gallery Event

Hollywood Reporter:

The first poster image revealed is that of Cesar Moreno taking on Iron Man (below).

I get the feeling that these will be some much wanted prints for the Mondo fans. I look forward to seeing more of the prints between now and the October 12th show date!

Some Thoughts on SPIDER-MAN on the PlayStation 4

Pretty much every free moment this weekend, I was glued to my television, butt firmly planted in my couch as I swung my way through New York City, playing what might be my video game of the year - Spider-Man, just released this past Friday for the PlayStation 4.

In turn, I wanted to share some pretty much universally glowing thoughts on the game.

I could gush on and on and on about this game, but in short, it’s some of the most fun I’ve ever had in a video game, and as a lifelong Spidey devotee, it’s exactly what I wanted an adaptation of the character to be.

I’ll be 100% this. I’ll be picking up the DLC. And I can’t wait for Spider-Man 2, whenever they can make one happen.

VEEP Creator’s TRUMP Tweet May Become A Feature Film

The world is weird, gang.

Sometimes, you can tweet an idea like this…

twitter.com/Aiannucci…

…and then…

Deadline:

Eight studios. What a world.

I really do hope that the title is Fake America Great Again.

(Also, how kind of sad is it that one of the few joys we could get out of this Presidency is a movie where the best-case scenario is that Trump is fooled into a fake reality?)

First Footage From HER SMELL Showcases Elisabeth Moss as a Crazed Punk Rocker

www.youtube.com/watch

Yep. I’m into it. Checks the boxes.

The SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN Returns In A New Series, This December

Comic Book:

The new series sees Octavius leaving behind the Doctor Octopus name once more to prove that he is the greatest superhero in the Marvel Universe. Of course, Octavius’ definition of what a good superhero should be is a bit different than most others.

Between Peter, Miles, Gwen and now Otto, there sure are a lot of Spider-People hanging around these days, eh?

That POPULAR FILM’ Oscar Isn’t Happening…For Now

Vox:

“The Academy recognized that implementing any new award nine months into the year creates challenges for films that have already been released,“ reads the press release, entitled “Academy determines new Oscars category merits further study.“ It continues: “The Board of Governors continues to be actively engaged in discussions, and will examine and seek additional input regarding this category.“

So…we’ll see it in 2020 instead?

INCREDIBLES 2 To Get Bonus Short AUNTIE EDNA’ On Home Release

twitter.com/BradBirdA…

I was going to get Incredibles 2 on iTunes either way. This just seals it.

I love that Pixar still goes all out for bonus materials on home releases.

A Beautiful Remake of the METAL GEAR SOLID Intro

www.youtube.com/watch

Kotaku:

Metal Gear Solid is my favorite video game of all time. I can’t believe it’s 20 years old already. This absolutely rules, though.

Entertainment Weekly Unveils CAPTAIN MARVEL

EW.com going all out for the next Marvel Studios adventure!

We’ve got a Cover!

Some great looking stills! (SKRULLS! PHOTON!)

An Interview with Brie Larson!

An Interview with Jude Law!

And of course, Kevin Feige has stuff to say.

Is it March yet?

HALLOWEEN’s Second Trailer ABSOLUTELY Rules

www.youtube.com/watch

Goddamn this looks great.

I will be there day one.

SERIAL Is Back For Season 3, September 20th!

twitter.com/serial/st…

Sure, this season won’t probably hit the highs of Season 1, but the focus already seems like it will be closer to what made Season 1 swing, and avoid what made Season 2 such a drag.

TENACIOUS D Is Back With POST-APOCALYPTO

Rolling Stone:

I was just wondering when JB and the Rage Cage were going to throw something out for our unsuspecting asses.

I feel like Rise of the Phoenix was terribly overlooked and underrated - hopefully this album (and web show?) is pretty good as well.

RIAN JOHNSON Returns To Original Films With Mystery KNIVES OUT

Deadline:

Fuck and yes.

I’ve loved every movie Rian Johnson has made, and I was worried we wouldn’t get one before he does his original Star Wars trilogy. High hopes for this one.

HENRY CAVILL To Lead Netflix’s THE WITCHER TV Series

Netflix PR:

That is a hell of a get!

One Last, Final Trailer for THE PREDATOR

www.youtube.com/watch

This one is a bit more spoilery, but definitely makes the movie look like a hell of a good time. Just two weeks away!

’How to Wipe and Wash Your Butt for Optimal Cleanliness’

This is a real thing that Popular Mechanics posted. Really.

What a world.

Those Crazy Bastards at LEGO Built A Life-Sized, Working Bugatti Chiron

www.youtube.com/watch

You crazy bastards, you did it.

Over 1,000,000 LEGO pieces and 2,304 LEGO engines are holding this sucker together. Unreal.

SWISS ARMY MAN Directing Duo to Re-Team MICHELLE YEOH and AWKWAFINA for EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE

Hollywood Reporter:

Now two of its stars, Michelle Yeoh and Awkwafina, are in talks to reunite. This time for an interdimensional action film.

Everything Everywhere All at Once is the next feature for directing duo Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. Better known as The Daniels, the filmmakers were behind the Sundance stand-out Swiss Army Man, the surrealist dramedy that saw Daniel Radcliffe play a flatulent corpse.

Swiss Army Man is one of my favorite movies of recent memory. In turn, I’ll go see whatever Daniels pulls together.

Helps that Michelle Yeoh absolutely rules.

CHRIS HEMSWORTH To Re-Team with the RUSSO BROTHERS for DHAKA on Netflix

Deadline:

As seems to be the standard with Netflix movies, my response is: “Hey, I’d give it a shot.“

9to5Mac Blows Open Apple’s September Event

Per 9to5Mac.com…

Here’s the iPhone XS:

And the new Apple Watch:

Ooh. Look at all those Watch Complications!

Apple’s iPhone Event Announced for September 12th

Engadget:

Get ready, nerds!

Hey, Alec Baldwin WON’T Be In THE JOKER After All

twitter.com/ABFalecba…

Bonus points if you, like me, read this in his voice.

A QUIET PLACE 2 Set For 2020

Collider:

I can’t think of a movie in recent memory I loved more which I want a sequel to less.

AMAZON Wants To Team With Studios For Prime Films

Deadline:

Netflix: It’s Not The Only Dumping Place Anymore! â„¢

Wesley Snipes Wants People To Think He’s Talking with Marvel

Vice:

There are a lot of conversations going around right now and we’re very blessed to have the enthusiasm and interest in something coming from that world again. We’ve created two projects that fit perfectly into this world and, when people see them, I think they’re only going to have a problem with deciding which one they love the most.

All the main execs [at Marvel] and my team, we’ve been discussing for the past two years. Everyone’s enthusiastic about it, everybody gets it. But they got a business to run and they gotta square the things that they gotta figure out before they can get to it, I guess. In the meantime, we got a business to run and our own slate of things to do so…

But the next time you see something in [the Blade universe], mark my words: what we did before is child’s play compared to what we can do now.

Considering last time dude made a Blade movie, he was such an asshole that he refused to open his eyes for a scene, so they had to poorly CG them in, I don’t think they give two fucks about the career of Wesley Snipes.

See? That actually happened.

You think the House of Mouse and it’s money-making wing want to deal with this again? The fuck outta here.

And Lo, Ellie Fanning Said To Peter Dinklage, I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW (Trailer)

youtu.be/8IOw3z-sR…

This looks like a good one!

MR. ROBOT To Wrap Up With Season 4

Hollywood Reporter:

I’m all for more shows having set, planned endings.

And with as much as I’ve enjoyed what I’ve seen with Mr. Robot, it was definitely not a series meant to run indefinitely.

A WILE E. COYOTE Movie Is In The Works

Variety:

The sibling team of Jon and Josh Silberman, whose writing and producing credits include “Living Biblically,“ “Bordertown,“ “Deadbeat,“ and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,“ have been hired by the studio to write the “Coyote Vs. Acme" script.

Is this going to be about Wile E. Coyote suing Acme for all of the terrible goods they’ve sold him over the years?

The Creator of HOUSE OF CARDS Takes Us To Mars With Hulu’s THE FIRST

youtu.be/ngl2W_VLp…

I’d be 100% more into this show if Sean Penn weren’t in it.

RICK AND MORTY Co-Creator JUSTIN ROLIAND Sets New Comedy at Hulu

Deadline:

I do enjoy Rick and Morty, so I’d be willing to give this a spin.

I just hope the fans of it aren’t as goddamned awful.

#FastFoodArmsRace: FROOT LOOP MINI DONUTS Invade Carls Jr. and Hardees

Chew Boom:

Available in five “frooty" vibrant colors, Froot Loops Mini Donuts feature an authentic Froot Loops-flavored mini ring cake donut coated in a sweet, Froot Loop-flavored frosting.

A for Effort.

New Trailer for FIRST MAN

youtu.be/w4GtJB5WA…

This is seriously the movie I am most looking forward to this Fall.

Can’t wait!

Can We Talk About UNTITLED GOOSE GAME?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0u_4rA8_9A

Coming to PC, Mac and Switch next year, Untitled Goose Game looks like the most surreal video game of all time.

Developed by House House, Panic - who published Firewatch - have signed on to publish this.

“It’s a lovely morning in the village, and you are a horrible goose.“ What a concept.

I kinda hope they keep the Untitled Goose Game name.

MATT SMITH Joins STAR WARS: EPISODE IX

Variety:

I do believe he’s the first Doctor to jump to Star Wars.

’AT&T-backed robocalls tell seniors net neutrality raises phone bills by $30’

Ars Technica:

The robocalls cite no evidence supporting the claim that net neutrality rules will raise cell phone bills and slow down Internet service. The bill in question would impose net neutrality rules in California that are nearly identical to the ones the Federal Communications Commission had on the books between 2015 and 2018. Since the federal version of the rules did not raise cell phone bills by $30 or slow down Internet speeds, there’s no reason to believe that imposing similar rules in California would have that effect.

Welp, time to start looking into a new cell-service provider.

Any recommendations, my dear friends?

Nintendo Announces Even More Indies Coming to the Switch

www.youtube.com/watch

Business Wire:

Just an absolute money grabbing beast, this adorable console.

New Trailer for BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE

youtu.be/7lTJjxDX_…

This looks absolutely wild. Will be checking out for sure.

ONIMUSHA Returns With a Current-Gen Remake!

youtu.be/8m92n8pta…

Playstation Blog:

I did not expect to see Onimusha to make a comeback - I have to assume that this remake is to test the waters for a full-on relaunch of the franchise.

GRAVITY FALLS Creator Comes to Netflix

Netflix PR:

Well, that’s a coup for future animated content on Netflix!

ALEC BALDWIN Joins THE JOKER

Deadline:

While Warner Bros. has not confirmed what role, buzz is that Baldwin is poised play the role of Thomas Wayne, who in DC canon is Bruce Wayne/Batman’s father. Thomas Wayne was first introduced in Detective Comics #33 (Nov. 1939) and he is respected physician and philanthropist in Gotham City. Wayne and his wife are murdered exiting the theater, an incident which young Bruce witnesses. That becomes his m.o. for ultimately becoming a vigilante. In the early comics, Wayne’s murderer is mugger/hitman Joe Chill, but starting with the first Tim Burton 1989 Batman movie, it’s the Joker who is the culprit.

This movie gets more and more surreal.

Funny thing is, I always thought that Baldwin would make a great Batman.

CYBERPUNK 2077 Gets A Lengthy Gameplay Walkthrough

www.youtube.com/watch

I was trying to stay optimistic, but realistic, about Cyberpunk 2077 after the E3 2018 trailers…but seeing how the game “works"…holy shit, if this is really how the game will look, feel and play…this could be an all-timer. Wow.

STREETS OF RAGE 4 Is A REAL THING THAT IS HAPPENING

www.youtube.com/watch

OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD

One question: What do we need to do to get Yuzo Koshiro in the mix?

TRUE DETECTIVE Goes Back To What Worked In First SEASON 3 Teaser

www.youtube.com/watch

Yeah, this looks real good.

Marvel To Launch New CONAN THE BARBARIAN Series

Marvel.com

Legendary writer Jason Aaron will helm the new tales of the sword-slashing hero, bringing him to life alongside star artist Mahmud Asrar. Aaron and Asrar will be joined by cover artist Esad Ribic and colorist Matt Wilson.

You couldn’t ask for a better team, especially based on their collective Thor run.

Seriously, go read that - amazing comics, which bode well for this Conan run.

Nintendo Had the Best Selling Video Game System AND Best Selling Game for July 2018

US Gamer:

Normally, I don’t really care about NPD numbers and such, but it’s absolutely buck wild to me that the best selling game of July 2018 was a 16-bit RPG throwback. So crazy.

Bloomberg Has The Details on Apple’s New Phones, Watches and More

Bloomberg:

However, none of the three iPhones will be wholly new designs like the iPhone X was last year or the iPhone 6 in 2014, with some inside Apple labeling the launch as an “S year,” a designation the company has given to new handsets that retain the previous design but add new internal features. The company is planning more significant changes for next year, they added.

In short, apparently, the rumors are true.

The three phones this year are basically an iPhone X S (a faster model of the iPhone X), an iPhone X Plus (bigger screen, size, battery), and, the third one, the low cost one, which…uh, is a weird choice for the “lower model" - one that is larger in size than the iPhone X, but has a lesser screen and components.

Even this Bloomberg article seems to indicate Apple is baffled by their own decisions:

The article also indicates we’re getting new Apple Watches (larger screens!) and new iPad Pros (they’re basically giant iPhone X’s now!).

I think this year my wallet will remain closed, whereas next year will be my phone upgrade + watch upgrade year.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 Is Officially on Hold

Hollywood Reporter:

No real surprise, but a tremendous bummer never the less.

(I’m holding out that we can get Taika Waititi, if a Gunn return is truly out of play.)

Hackers Obtained Personal Info of 2 Million T-Mobile Customers

Motherboard:

In a brief intrusion, hackers stole “some” customer data including names, email addresses, account numbers, and other billing information. The good news is that they did not get credit card numbers, social security numbers, or passwords, according to the company.

A reminder again:

So, Who’s Gonna Take Over on BOND 25?

Deadline:

LETS GOOOOOO

Danny Boyle Off of BOND 25

twitter.com/007/statu…

Well, that’s a bummer and a half.

It may be time to toss out the Daniel Craig-era (Spectre felt like an ending anyway, even if it wasn’t very good), and restart with a director and a Bond with a strong vision.

Unless, of course, this is a Lord & Miller / Lucasfilm split where risks were exactly the issue.

HOLD THE DARK Trailer Reveals the Latest From the Director of GREEN ROOM and BLUE RUIN

youtu.be/OFAwDO6b5…

Green Room was one of my favorite movies of 2016, so I was going to be there for Hold the Dark no matter what, especially with it being on Netflix.

But it’s good to know how damn good this looks.

22 States Ask Court To Restore Net Neutrality

The Verge:

Very pleased to see Maryland among the list.

Chance The Rapper Comes To The World of Horror with SLICE

youtu.be/i5LUKX97b…

Another instance of “It’s A24, so I’ll watch it.“

Kelly Marie Tran Speaks Out

New York Times:

This is a must-read. Get em, Loan.

AMERICAN VANDAL Is Back For Season 2, And We're Going From Dicks to Poop!

youtu.be/jwrr6aIWe…

If you didn’t watch the first season of American Vandal, fix that - it’s one of the best skewering of the true-crime genre I’ve ever seen. Thankfully, this second season looks like it could be as good.

LEGO Reveals Massive STAR WARS Cloud City Set

Brickset:

75222 Betrayal at Cloud City, 2,812 pieces

US $349.99 — CA $399.99 — DE 349.99€ — UK £299.99 — FR 349.99€ — DK 2999DK

Available from 13th September for VIPs, 1st October everyone else.

Visit Bespin’s amazing metropolis in the sky—Cloud City!

Relive a world of unforgettable moments from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back or add your own fun twists to the story with this LEGO Star Wars 75222 Betrayal at Cloud City set. The amazingly detailed set is divided into 4 sections, each depicting scenes from the classic movie.

This looks insane.

Here Comes LEGO Overwatch!

twitter.com/PlayOverw…

I totally forgot LEGO even had the license for this!

WOLVERINE Getting A New Costume. It’s Not Good.

Comic Book:

Who signed off on Wolverine getting the Emo Bucky gear?

Netflix Renews GLOW for SEASON 3

twitter.com/GlowNetfl…

Now, just to catch up on the SECOND season…

#FastFoodArmsRace: PepsiCo To Purchase Sodastream

PepsiCo:

I figured it’d either be Pepsi or Coke one day.

SURPRISE! It’s A Nintendo Switch Indie Presentation

youtu.be/qNUSrhEEv…

Out of nowhere, Nintendo dropped a video detailing a bunch of new indies hitting the Switch.

I haven’t even hit play yet, but I figured you — loyal reader - would want to know ASAP.

#FastFoodArmsRace: McDonald’s China Brings Churros and Pudding-Flavored Soft Serve Together

Brand Eating:

Sounds goddamned delicious. Why can’t there be limited time runs of these items in the states?

WATCHMEN To Arrive on HBO in 2019

twitter.com/HBO/statu…

Doesn’t get more official than that.

It’s Our First Look at STAR WARS: RESISTANCE In This New Trailer

youtu.be/bH_Ws7sA4…

It’s no Rebels or Clone Wars, but it could be fun.

Debuts October 7th on Disney Channel.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Haagen-Dazs Japan Brings Us Flavors Based On…Fairy Tales?

SoraNews24:

Sadly, no Goldilocks and The Three Bears-themed Porridge flavor.

The BOURNE Universe Comes To TV, As USA Network Picks Up TREADSTONE

Collider:

Could be cool, but as The Bourne Legacy taught us, a Jason Bourne project without Jason Bourne is a fragile platform to build upon.

MoviePass Reveals Its Newest, Latest, Greatest Plan. For This Week. Today. For Now.

The Verge:

Honestly, this one isn’t terrible - if the service were “Hey, take your pick of seeing these movies" from Day One, I’d be less bothered by all of the poorly executed changes to the program over the past year.

Alas, that genie is out of the bottle.

HEY! It’s A New Trailer for IRON FIST SEASON 2

youtu.be/kvvWB0GwC…

I wonder if I’ll be able to just jump into Season 2, and we can call a bogey on Season 1, a’la Parks & Recreation?

A Summary of All The Third-Party App Issues Caused By Twitter Today

TechCrunch:

This whole write-up says it better than I can.

This section in particular:

Its own apps?

Oh, you mean like TweetDeck, the app Twitter acquired then shut down on Android, iPhone and Windows? The one it generally acted like it forgot it owned? Or maybe you mean Twitter for Mac (previously Tweetie, before its acquisition), the app it shut down this year, telling Mac users to just use the web instead? Or maybe you mean the nearly full slate of TV apps that Twitter decided no longer needed to exist?

And Twitter wonders why users don’t want to use its own clients?

Perhaps, users want a consistent experience — one that doesn’t involve a million inconsequential product changes like turning stars to hearts or changing the character counter to a circle. Maybe they appreciate the fact that the third parties seem to understand what Twitter is better than Twitter itself does: Twitter has always been about a real-time stream of information. It’s not meant to be another Facebook-style algorithmic News Feed. The third-party clients respect that. Twitter does not.

I will continue — even in its restricted form — to use Tweetbot over anything officially Twitter.

Yet, at the same time, I recognize a countdown clock is on for my use of Twitter as a platform.

It’s not the site I loved. It’s not the service I was obsessed with. It’s not where I made friends, it’s not where I met my wife. Not anymore.

Keep chasing being Facebook, Jack. I’ll leave you too.

It’s Official: James Gunn Will NOT Be Returning for GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3

Variety:

Score one for the bad guys.

MY FAVORITE MURDER Creators to Launch Podcast Network

Vulture:

While I am not a Murderino myself, I am one by proxy, as my wife is a huge fan of the show.

I have no doubt that Georgia and Karen will bring together an awesome mix of creators to their network, and seeing how they cherish and promote the work of their listeners, it will become an incubator for strong talent.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead Is ALL ABOUT NINA

youtube.com/watch

Mary Elizabeth Winstead + Standup Comedy?

THAT’S MY FETISH

In all seriousness, this movie looks good, and I always enjoy Common as an actor.

Wes Anderson Working on a Post-World War II Musical

The Playlist:

According to a report by French outlet Charente Libre, Anderson’s upcoming film is said to be a musical. That’s right, Wes Anderson faithful, the director is prepping a post-WWII French musical.

Well, that’s the most Wes Anderson possibility. Perfect.

Today In Leaks: Hey! DIABLO 3 is Coming to the Nintendo Switch!

Kotaku:

The news was meant to be announced tomorrow, but appeared today on Forbes in a post that’s since been deleted. Diablo III Eternal Collection on Switch will include the original game, the Reaper of Souls expansion, the Rise of the Necromancer pack, and all updates the game has received thus far. You’ll also be able to get an armor set that makes you look like Ganondorf from The Legend of Zelda, because I guess Ganondorf would be mad about the devil muscling in on his “crown prince of evil" turf.

Apparently we’re getting four player online, and four player offline play too! Even on one system.

Sounds pretty dope to me! ONCE MORE INTO THE BREACH!

Apple Has Been Courting Developers To Move Apps To The Subscription Model

Business Insider:

The developers at Apple’s loft soon realized the hardware giant needed something from them: Apple was a few months into a major shift in the App Store’s core business model, and it needed buy-in from developers.

Developers, Apple said, needed to realize the business model of apps was changing. Successful apps tended to focus on long-term engagement instead of upfront cost. Indie developers who wanted to capitalize on this needed to move to a subscription model, as Apple had made possible in the past year in a splashy announcement.

That’s certainly one way to raise the “Services" side of the Apple business.

I know that subscriptions for apps are controversial, but it’s a great way for devs to build a regular income - and for apps you use the most, I 100% feel that’s worth it.

Tessa Thompson Is Your LADY For the LADY AND THE TRAMP Live-Action Remake

Collider:

Couldn’t be happier to see an actress get high profile work. Tessa rules.

The Creator of MAD MEN Has Cast EVERYONE in His New Show THE ROMANOFFS

youtu.be/sbqQ6pHct…

I mean, how can I not at least give this show a shot, given that its on Amazon Prime?

The Romanoffs kicks off on October 12th.

MoviePass Blocking Users From Cancelling, Renewing Without Consent

IndieWire:

Were this not so absolutely sad, this would be absolutely hilarious.

You were supposed to be the chosen one, MoviePass. THE CHOSEN ONE.

Hey Folks, I’m at OTAKON This Weekend!

Hey Nerds,

Your dear Internet pal Marty Day is going to be away at Otakon in Washington DC all weekend long.

Super Art Fight has not one, but two shows, on Saturday, August 11th — Super Art Fight proper at 2:30pm in Panel 2, and the 18+ Super Art Fight Unleashed in Main Events at 11pm — so be sure to come out and say Hi!

As for blast-o-rama., we’ll be off from posting until Monday morning, but keep an eye on my Twitter account, as I’m sure I’ll be sharing interesting links and such over there.

See you guys on Monday!

Nintendo Switch Online to Hit in the Second Half of September

Nintendo:

Well, there you go. September 16, 2018 or later.

Apple Signs a New Comedy Series From IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY Duo

Variety:

The series is set in a video game development studio, with McElhenney also attached to star in addition to writing and executive producing alongside Day. The series marks the duo’s first collaboration as writers since “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.“ McElhenney co-created “It’s Always Sunny" with both he and Day starring and serving as executive producers on that show.

Apple and Ubisoft working together on a show from the It’s Always Sunny crew. What a weird world we live in.

If I said that sentence five years ago, you’d think that I were playing pop-culture bingo.

Spotify Announces Long-Term Samsung Partnership

Spotify:

That’s why we’re excited to share that Spotify has been named Samsung’s new go-to music service provider, which gives Samsung users a seamless listening experience between devices. You can look forward to a more meaningful music experience, thanks to integrations across a variety of Samsung products.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

A Teaser for the 2nd Season of THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCd29Yq4HXU&amp;feature=share

Loved the first season of this. And I’ve got a little Rachel Brosnahan crush.

So bring on more madcap 50’s standup comedy fun!

The First Trailer for Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 11/9

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRQv9xMQ3E0&amp;feature=share

This will definitely rub some folks the wrong way, yet like with all of Moore’s docs, I’d love to see this.

Marvel Studios Wants James Gunn Back for GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 - Can They Convince Disney?

Deadline:

Interesting stuff. I would think this is an instance where Kevin Feige is cashing in the chips of spearheading twenty successful Marvel films to get some sway over the House of Mouse.

Wonder if he can pull it off?

The BLACK CAT & SILVER SABLE Movie Is Dead, Long Live The BLACK CAT & SILVER SABLE Movies

Variety:

The full piece mentions the plans we knew - Venom, Morbius, and whatever else they can slam together - but the original Silver & Black movie is dead, instead giving us two separate films.

Are you excited, True Believer?

Here’s Your RED DEAD REDEMPTION 2 Gameplay Video

www.youtube.com/watch

Bring on the cowboy action!

Discord’s Going After Steam

Variety:

I was wondering if anyone would be able to go after Valve’s moneymaker and succeed. Discord has the numbers to do it.

Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and a Boarding School Face Horror in SLAUGHTERHOUSE RULEZ

www.youtube.com/watch

Not sure when this will hit state-side, but I’m excited to see this first project from Frost/Pegg’s production wing.

Weird 90’s music note - the movie is directed by the front man of KULA SHAKER!

Audible to Host Exclusive HARRY POTTER Audiobook

Business Wire:

That’s going to be a hell of an exclusive for them.

Ben Schwartz IS Sonic The Hedgehog!

Variety:

First BB-8, now Sonic. What a career for Jean-Ralphio!

Concerned About the Changes to the Oscars? Blame ABC

Variety:

You are facing irrelevance.

I KNEW IT!

Bastards.

Surprise, Surprise - Everyone Wants To Work With James Gunn

Hollywood Reporter:

Unsurprisingly, those suitors include Warner Bros., to work on a DC Comics film, and yep, even Marvel Studios themselves.

I sure hope they can still figure out how to work things out for Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3, but perhaps I’m being optimistic.

Marvel May Want TOM SCIOLI To Retell The Origins of the FANTASTIC FOUR

The Beat:

Tom Scioli (Godland, Transformers vs. GI Joe) tweeted the following with some pitch images presenting the origin of Galactus from a proposed Fantastic Four project.

Yeah, I can’t think of a project I’d want to see more.

For those unfamiliar with Scioli’s work, it’s as if a teen’s notebook went crazy. I highly recommend his original work American Barbarian, but also his incredible Transformers vs. GI-Joe series.

Change Is Coming to the Oscars

Hollywood Reporter:

Among those changes:

All of these changes are happening to help curb the drop in ratings for the awards show over the past few years.

I think that it’d just be smarter to find a way to stream it online and grab viewers that way. It’s bizarre to me that in this day and age, it’s practically impossible to (legally) stream the Oscars.

SUPER SMASH BROS. ULTIMATE Gets Even Bigger, With a Nintendo Direct Reveal

Business Wire:

Here’s the full YouTube presentation, though the linked press release does a great job of breaking down the reveals in text form.

www.youtube.com/watch

I can’t wait. They’ve gone all out for this one.

Pre-Order Super Smash Bros. Ultimate here.

’NewTV’ Launches With $1 Billion In Funding

Variety:

Bite-size TV shows? Who the heck would actually get behind this idea?

…oh. oh. I guess this is going to be a thing then.

I don’t know if there’s really a market for this, but it certainly sounds like there are more than enough studios behind it to make a go for it.

What if You Tried to Rob the Bat Cave? or the Fortress of Solitude? You’d Have This Movie

Collider:

I love heist movies and I’m a comics nerd. This sounds fun to me.

Behold Japan’s Super Dope PEANUTS-Themed Hotel!

Soranews24:

so cool.

Sounds Like Disney Will Leave Fox Searchlight Alone

Indiewire:

All good news here.

Fox Searchlight has been home to some of the most original, enjoyable movies of the past decade. Makes me happy they’ll keep doing what they do best.

Chris Pratt’s COWBOY NINJA VIKING Has Been Delayed Indefinitely

Hollywood Reporter:

Universal has indefinitely delayed the film and pulled it from its planned release date, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. The pic was in preproduction and last week cast Priyanka Chopra as its female lead as it was heading for a shoot in London next month. It had been slated to open June 28, 2019.

I have to admit, with every update, I was amazed this movie was going forward.

How bad must this script be for it to be pulled so close to filming?

You Guys Remember That Plain White T’s Song? Yeah, It’s Gonna Be a TV Show

Hollywood Reporter:

The Grammy- and Tony-nominated band is teaming with Lively McCabe Entertainment and Primary Wave to develop a scripted romantic dramedy based on its chart-topping single about a long-distance relationship. Producers, including the band’s frontman and songwriter Tom Higgenson as well as writer Jeremy Desmon, will be in L.A. pitching the potential series — described as a contemporary fairy tale that expands the story within the song — to multiple networks and studios this month.

I’ve made the joke lately that pitch meetings in Hollywood go like this…

Hollywood Executive: Yeah, yeah I have.

Guy Pitching: THAT. The Movie!

Hollywood Executive: SOLD!

…but this is just getting really, deeply sad.

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg Want to Bring Back AMERICAN GLADIATORS

Deadline:

Makes sense, I bet that show rules when you’re stoned!

RUBY ROSE will be the CW’s BATWOMAN

Variety:

Yeah, that’s perfect casting. Throw a red wig on her and go.

Full Trailer for SHOWTIME’s KIDDING, Starring Jim Carrey

youtu.be/jS6Gt76e_…

This looks like a can’t-miss. Gondry and Carrey making magic again.

Now, do I really consider adding Showtime to my list of streaming services?

And Now, a SUPERGIRL Movie Is in the Works

Deadline:

Sadly, not connected to the current show (which is a shame, as Melissa Benoist is doing a great job.)

At the same time, let’s see if any of the DCEU beyond Wonder Woman sticks. Sure hope this does.

SPACE JAM 2 Eyes a Director

The Wrap:

I just hope this is the beginning of a Space Jam universe.

BRING ON THE MONSTARS MOVIE

Facebook Wants Your Banking Data

Wall Street Journal:

The social-media giant has asked large U.S. banks to share detailed financial information about their customers, including card transactions and checking-account balances, as part of an effort to offer new services to users.

I feel sick.

The answer should be, unequivocally, no. I need to get off that damn thing.

(Alt link for those who don’t want to deal with the WSJ paywall — here’s The Verge’s write up.)

MANIAC Gets a Full, Proper Trailer

youtu.be/L6cDDmk-O…

Worlds better than the teaser, this looks like some wild shit!

I’m there!

MoviePass to Cut Offering to Three Movies A Month

Wall Street Journal:

This deal’s getting worse all the time!

#FastFoodArmsRace: Nike Brings General Mills Cereals to the World of Sneakers

G and SAGAT Join the STREET FIGHTER V Roster

youtu.be/bvc69jTXe…

youtu.be/2nZLxqTBV…

OK, so - a Presidential fighter, in G, is an interesting choice…but how the hell did it take this long for Sagat to join the Street Fighter V roster?

THE DEUCE Comes Back for Season 2, And Here’s a Trailer!

youtu.be/wlKU8POYQ…

Did anyone watch Season 1? Worth checking out?

TEKKEN 7’s Season 2 Pass Gets Some Old Favorites, and WHAT THE HELL, NEGAN FROM THE WALKING DEAD?!

youtu.be/Sy3BHkOA6…

…that’s certainly a direction to take, Bandai Namco.

A Look at the TOYS R US Rebrand Which Could’ve Been

Fast Company:

In the six months between filing for bankruptcy and announcing its liquidation, Toys “R" Us CMO Carla Hassan and Creative Director Lee Walker enlisted the branding and design firm Lippincott to address the problem with a new identity for the store. Lippincott, whose work you’re familiar with through brands like Starbucks, Carnival, and Samsung, created a great refresh for a company that is now defunct. The work, which never saw the light of day, is a peek into an alternate future that could have been.

Shame, this could’ve been the shot in the arm they needed.

Now I’m sad again.

The MINECRAFT Movie Loses Its Director and Writer

TheWrap:

Welcome to Development Hell, Minecraft.

Then again, I had no idea what story could really be told theatrically for this franchise…

CBS All-Access to Get JEAN LUC PICARD Series

youtu.be/9jPFtLRgj…

Pretty much all we’ve got is the announcement video above.

No show title, no real details, just Patrick Stewart back as Picard.

Between this and Star Trek: Discovery, is this worth the $5.99 to you, friends?

'Lt. Joe Kenda Is Still Adjusting to Being the (Giant) Face of a TV Network'

Vulture:

Kenda’s perch atop the roster of programming on the decade-old true crime powerhouse ID is secure (if not completely natural) in a lineup that includes Wives with Knives, Deadly Women and Stepford Lives of Stepford Wives. Homicide Hunter, true stories from his 23-and-a-half years on the job in Colorado Springs, attracted nearly two million viewers per week last season, its seventh, and shows no signs of slowing.

Really enjoyed this interview by Sarah Turcotte with Joe Kenda, the star of one of my favorite guilty pleasure shows, the hypnotic Homicide Hunter.

And yes, the Kenda Cruise is real. Top Stars being Lt. Joe Kenda and The Guy Who Plays Young Lt. Joe Kenda In The Reenactments.

NERF Announces D.Va’s Light Gun as their Next OVERWATCH Release

twitter.com/PlayOverw…

I wonder if we’re going to get the full roster’s weapons in Nerf form?

FX Announces DEVS, a New TV Series from ALEX GARLAND

All we really know about the new show Devs is the cast - list and descriptions below - and that it’s created by Alex Garland, of Annhiliation and Ex-Machina fame.

Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) is Forest, the CEO of Amaya, whose obsession is the covert work of the company’s development division.

Jin Ha (Broadway’s M. Butterfly) is Jamie, a gifted cyber security specialist, who is Lily’s former boyfriend.

Zach Grenier (The Good Wife) is Kenton, the terse, dry and dangerous head of security at Amaya.

Stephen McKinley Henderson (Lady Bird) is Stewart, a cultured intellectual from another era and one of the top technical minds working in Amaya’s secret development division.

Cailee Spaeny (Pacific Rim: Uprising) is Lyndon, a young, brilliant, and stubborn employee who works in Amaya’s secret development division.

Alison Pill (The Newsroom) is Katie, a gifted quantum physicist tapped by Forest to be his second in command at Amaya.

I was sold at Garland, but what a cast!

FX Announces Plot of Season 4 of FARGO, To Star CHRIS ROCK

FX Press Release:

Chris Rock plays the head of one family, a man who — in order to prosper — has surrendered his oldest boy to his enemy, and who must in turn raise his son’s enemy as his own. It’s an uneasy peace, but profitable. And then the head of the Kansas City mafia goes into the hospital for routine surgery and dies. And everything changes. It’s a story of immigration and assimilation, and the things we do for money. And as always, a story of basically decent people who are probably in over their heads. You know, Fargo.

Fargo is one of the greatest shows on television, full-stop.

This should be awesome.

The Real Life Story of the Thief Who Scammed the McDonald’s Monopoly Game Goes From Internet Post to Movie in 6 Days

Deadline:

Read this story the other day? You really should, shit is wild.

And now we’ve already got a movie coming from Damon and Affleck. Wow.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Canada’s Boston Pizza Gives The Pizza Table’ Some Tiny Chairs

AdWeek:

Tiny chairs!

Boston Pizza (a Canadian chain, actually) and John St. oblige with the Pizza Patio Set, which features miniature chairs in addition to the saver, aka the “pizza table" or “ottoman,“ which is designed to keep that greasy cardboard lid from mashing your sweet, sweet pie.

About goddamned time.

Rebecca Ferguson Joins the MEN IN BLACK Reboot

Deadline:

What an incredible cast they’re forming for this Men in Black remake.

I legit love the first movie - hopefully the new version, with Ferguson, Tessa Thompson, Chris Hemsworth and Kumail Nanjiani lives up to the legacy.

Mondo Announces a TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES-Themed Gallery Show

Mondo:

There are a few sample prints on the announcement post.

My favorite was the variant Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie print by Matt Ryan Tobin, included above.

Apple Hits a $1 Trillion Market Value

Recode:

A $1 Trillion company exists.

And don’t we all feel better and richer for it?

Nope? Bummer.

Sony Gets A Writer for A KRAVEN THE HUNTER Movie Because What The Hell, Why Not

Collider:

Back in June 2017, THR reported that Sony was planning to expand the Spider-Man universe with films like Silver & Black, while “other projects will focus on Kraven the Hunter and Mysterio,“ so news of the solo Kraven project itself is more than a year old. However, now that Sony is in the process of hiring a writer, it’s a strong sign that the studio is getting serious about expanding the non-Spider-Man Spidey universe and that the Kraven movie is heating up.

Ah yes, Kraven the Hunter, the villain with such interesting stories not involving Spider-Man such as…

Good luck, Richard!

Fred Armisen and Maya Rudolph are Together FOREVER for Amazon Prime

youtu.be/bagwg_tXl…

Interesting series - it’s coming from the producer of Master of None, so I’m sure it will have a unique skew.

Teaser Trailer for LIFE IS STRANGE 2

www.youtube.com/watch

Looks interesting…

Jessica Chastain To Be A Bad-Ass Murder Machine in EVE

Collider:

Matthew Newton will direct from his own screenplay, and while Voltage is keeping official plot details under wraps, sources say the script follows a ruthless female assassin named Eve (Chastain) who is hunted by her former employers while trying to tell her family the truth about what she does for a living.

I’m a big fan of Chastain, so to see her get to run solo as a lead is pretty cool.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Panera Decides One Is Not Enough with DOUBLE BREAD BOWL

Thrillist:

Good lord. So many carbs.

’The Bullshit Web’

Pixel Envy:

At the time, a few of my friends were getting cable internet. It was remarkable seeing the same pages load in just a few seconds, and I remember thinking about the kinds of the possibilities that would open up as the web kept getting faster.

And faster it got, of course. When I moved into my own apartment several years ago, I got to pick my plan and chose a massive fifty megabit per second broadband connection, which I have since upgraded.

So, with an internet connection faster than I could have thought possible in the late 1990s, what’s the score now? A story at the Hill took over nine seconds to load; at Politico, seventeen seconds; at CNN, over thirty seconds. This is the bullshit web.

Lovely read, if you, like me, miss what the web was.

I try to keep it nice and smooth here at blast-o-rama.

Let me know if you ever see slowdown.

RUMOR: Disney Unlikely to Re-Hire James Gunn for GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3

Variety:

Were this not a source as respected as Variety, I’d assume this was click-bait.

Sigh

Netflix Remains in the Andy Serkis Business With ANIMAL FARM

Deadline:

I recall a really great adaptation of Animal Farm on TNT, I think it was?

I’m sure Serkis will produce something amazing, given his work on the Apes films.

SNL’s Aidy Bryant Gets SHRILL for Hulu

Hollywood Reporter:

Hulu has handed out a six-episode series order for Shrill, a comedy starring the Saturday Night Live favorite.

Good for Aidy. She’s a whirlwind talent who deserves a showcase like this.

ALF Is Coming Back. In TV Show Form.

TVline:

HEY WILLIE

JJ Abrams Posts From The First Day of Filming STAR WARS: EPISODE IX

twitter.com/jjabrams/…

Not much to it, but Began, the Hype Train has.

Mondo Brings FIGHT CLUB To the World of Card Games

Mondo:

I think it’s really cool that Mondo keeps branching into cool, new unique ways of celebrating the films we love.

Due to hit in September. Sub-site here.

Turkish Airlines Makes an Airline Safety Video Featuring THE LEGO MOVIE Cast

youtu.be/C2hCN6cVu…

I have to admit, some of these attempts to bore us less with Airline Safety videos are charming.

Personally, I’d put this above Virgin America’s song-and-dance number, but below the gold standard, Virgin America’s admission that these videos are generally boring and dull.

The New TERMINATOR Movie Gets a Twitter First Look

twitter.com/Terminato…

I’m here for Mackenzie Davis, but I’m staying hyped for Linda Hamilton looking way badass.

Facebook and Instagram To Now Tell You How Much Time You Waste in Their Apps

The Verge:

Maybe I’m being radically cynical here, but isn’t this sort of a complicit statement from Facebook/Instagram that their apps are wasting your time, and you should be doing other, better, more important things?

I look forward to finding out that some way, some how, this leads to people using those apps more, as opposed to less.

Lakeith Stanfield to Headline PRINCE OF CATS Adaptation

Deadline:

SO DOPE

Sony To Redo BLIND DATE

Deadline:

I’ve joked for years, “They keep remaking the good movies, why don’t they try redoing the less-than-great ones?“

I guess someone is finally listening…

Your Next DC Comics Film…SUPER PETS

Collider:

Please don’t be a grim-and-gritty reboot of Ace the Bat Hound, Krypto the Super Dog and others.

Jared Stern being the writer assigned has me hoping this will be a fun romp through the Silver-Age-era DC Comics Universe, but…

Spotify Now Has Motion Comics, Thanks to ARCHIE

Nerdist:

I’m going to be very interested to see how these do on the service.

Could be the beginning of something big for the comics game.

Steven Mofat Can’t Quit Time Travel: THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE Coming to HBO

Hollywood Reporter:

The drama, which landed at the premium cabler after a multiple-outlet bidding war, will be adapted by Steven Moffat (Sherlock, Doctor Who). An episode count and premiere date have yet to be determined. Casting has not yet begun.

I can’t say he’s not the right guy for the job, but I figure he’d be tired of the time-travel game at this point.

Your Next TV Show To The Big Screen: FANTASY ISLAND

Deadline:

With Blumhouse and the Truth or Dare director involved, should I assume this will be a creepier take?

DONUT COUNTY Finally Releases August 28th

Playstation.Blog:

youtu.be/NWt1GPkfz…

Very excited for this one. My only question for myself is…it hits PS4 and iOS the same day. Which one do I get?

More Changes Coming to MOVIEPASS, And You’re Probably Not Going to Like Them

Business Wire:

Approaching the one-year anniversary of introducing its standard $9.95 price point, the MoviePass community has grown to more than 3 million members and in turn has contributed to record box office growth, responsible for approximately 6 percent of the nation’s total box office sales in the first half of 2018. In addition, MoviePass Ventures and MoviePass Films are contributing to the company’s ancillary revenue.

Today, the company has implemented several elements of a long-term growth plan to protect the existing community and set it up for future sustainable growth.

Hoo-boy, here we go…these are the new changes:

So, for those keeping track - the MoviePass plan started as:

And now it will be:

I get it. Things have been hard for MoviePass. They’re bleeding money. They’re not sustainable. They’re treading water and just trying to make things work.

It’s just sad.

Irk The Nerds In Your Life With These SLIGHTY WRONG Shirts

Slightly Wrong Store:

pro-tip - insist the quote is 100% accurate.

There’s a Tumblr, too.

I love these. I think this is my favorite:

Logitech Acquires Blue Microphones

Blue:

We have a lot in common with Logitech. Our products are all about the marriage of great design and stellar performance, and so are theirs. We both have strong brands in the gaming market. We make the most popular streaming mic, they make the most popular streaming cam. And we both want to put excellent, high-performance gear on every desktop.

Logitech sure has been acquiring a lot of companies lately - Jaybird, Ultimate Ears, Astro - seems like they’re making a play to completely cover the computer accessories world.

For what it’s worth, Blue rules - I use their Yeti mic every week for podcasting.

DAMNIT, CHLOE - We’re Getting a 24 Prequel

Hollywood Reporter:

Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that the next installment in the 24 franchise will be an ongoing prequel series that tells the origin story of how Jack Bauer became Jack Bauer. Original series creators Joel Surnow and Bob Cochran are said to be teaming on an idea for the character originally played by Kiefer Sutherland. Executive producer Howard Gordon is attached to the project and is working with Surnow and Cochran on the idea.

Well, if a sequel with a new character didn’t work, why not go backwards?

Sony Unleashes a New VENOM Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

It’s still so weird to me that we’re getting a stand-alone Venom movie with zero connection to Spider-Man.

Feels like such a 90’s superhero movie throwback in that regard.

The GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Cast Signs Group Statement in Support of James Gunn

From Chris Pratt’s Instagram:

www.instagram.com/p/Bl3OVfe…

Just in case this gets deleted for whatever reason, here’s the full text of the statement:

We fully support James Gunn. We were all shocked by his abrupt firing last week and have intentionally waited these ten days to respond in order to think, pray, listen, and discuss. In that time, we’ve been encouraged by the outpouring of support from fans and members of the media who wish too see James reinstated as director of Volume 3 as well as discouraged by those so easily duped into believing the many outlandish conspiracy theories surrounding him.

Being in the “Guardians of the Galaxy" movies has been a great honor in each of our lives. We cannot let this moment pass without expressing our love, support, and gratitude for James. We are not here to defend his jokes of many years ago but rather to share our experience having spent many years together on set making Guardians of the Galaxy 1 and 2. The character he has shown in the wake of his firing is consistent with the man he was every day on set, and his apology, now and from years ago when first addressing these remarks, we believe is from the heart, a heart we all know, trust, and love. In casting each of us to help him tell the story of misfits who find redemption, he changed our lives forever. We believe the theme of redemption has never been more relevant than now.

Each of us looks forward to working with our friend James again in the future. His story isn’t over — not by a long shot.

There is little due process in the court of public opinion. James is likely not the last good person to be put on trial. Given the growing political divide in this country, it’s safe to say instances like this will continue, although we hope Americans from across the political spectrum can ease up on the character assassinations and stop weaponizing mob mentality.

It is our hope that what has transpired can serve as an example for all of us to realize the enormous responsibility we have to ourselves and to each other regarding the use of our written words when we etch them in digital stone; that we as a society may learn from this experience and in the future will think twice before we decide what we want to express; and in so learning perhaps can harness this capability to help and heal instead of hurting each other. Thank you for taking the time to read our words.

The Guardians of the Galaxy,

Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Sean Gunn, Pom Klementieff, Michael Rooker

Hopefully, a sign of solidarity by the entire cast is enough to make Marvel Studios/Disney reconsider their decision.

A Fascinating Read on the Real-Life SIMPSONS Home

Mental Floss:

But controversy soon erupted in this faux-Springfield mock-up. The homeowner’s association wasn’t keen on having a cartoon house that broke conformity requirements by being painted solar yellow. The sweepstakes winner rejected it outright. And the current owner had to learn to live with the property being a source of perpetual curiosity for fans of the show who brazenly turn her doorknobs and peer through her windows at all hours of the day and night. As it turns out, the reality of living in a fantasy can get a little complicated.

I remember this sweepstakes vividly as a kid. As an avid watcher of the first…oh, ten? seasons of The Simpsons, there wasn’t anything I wanted to win more.

But now, 21 years later, the reality is so much stranger than the promised fantasy. Check it out.

#FastFoodArmsRace: McDonald’s Celebrates 50 Years of the Big Mac with…THE MAC COIN

Chew Boom:

I first thought this had to be some sort of crypto-currency bullshit play. But good news! It’s an actual coin. Check it out.

Beginning at lunch time on Thursday, August 2, 2018 fans will be offered one free MacCoin with the purchase of a Big Mac at 14,000 participating restaurants across the U.S., while supplies last. Starting Friday, August 3, you can redeem your MacCoin for a free Big Mac at participating locations in the U.S. and in more than 50 participating countries worldwide.

I do wonder if, given the collectible nature of the coin, how many people will actually redeem them for the free Big Macs.

I’d love to see the distribution vs. redemption counts here.

NETFLIX Teases MANIAC With A Weird-Ass Teaser

youtu.be/dQZPp5ED1…

I was pretty much sold with Jonah Hill and Emma Stone starring (Superbad follow-up!), and Cary Fukunaga directing (he gave us the first season of True Detective), but, from this teaser…that’s about all we have.

Good news, I found Netflix’s synopsis. Sounds like it could rule.

CASTLEVANIA Season 2 Revealed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbb8zPQBmOw&amp;feature=share

I know, second season, but I’m still amazed we have a Castlevania cartoon written by Warren Ellis.

Look! It’s a Teaser for IRON FIST Season 2!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu5FAWnFRI0&amp;feature=share

I still haven’t watched the first. Worth it?

Welcome the Cast of STAR WARS: EPISODE IX

StarWars.com:

No major surprises in the list.

Billy Dee Williams confirmed, Mark Hamill confirmed, and unreleased footage from The Force Awakens will be used so Carrie Fischer can appear in the film posthumously.

Excited?

Apple Signs Up The TV Rights for TIME BANDITS

Deadline:

Interesting choice.

Where’s my damn Buckaroo Banzai reboot/sequel?

Hey! There’s Actually a (Teaser) Trailer for EVANGELION 3.0 + 1.0!

www.youtube.com/watch

Originally titled Evangelion 4.0, Evangelion 3.0 + 1.0 is set as the final film in the Rebuild of Evangelion series, retelling/rebooting the classic anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion series.

Originally set for a 2015 release, this film is now set for a 2020 release, a crisp thirteen years after the Japanese release of Evangelion 1.0, and twenty-five years after the launch of Neon Genesis Evangelion proper.

What I’m saying is: I’m an old.

Remember Andy Serkis’ JUNGLE BOOK Remake, MOWGLI? It’s Now Coming To Netflix Instead

Deadline:

Holy shit. No theatrical release at all now.

With The Cloverfield Paradox, Annihilation (internationally, at least),Extinction and now Mowgli, Netflix is becoming the dumping ground for movies that the big studios are wary to release properly.

I don’t know if it’s a good thing…it’s just damned interesting.

So, Uh, MoviePass Ran Out of Money Last Night

Business Insider:

In other words: On Thursday it ran out of cash, at least temporarily.

Yikes.

’I’m Deleting All My Old Tweets Because Nothing Matters’

Wired:

In fact, over the past few months, many of the journalists I follow have casually mentioned that they have timers on their accounts set to delete their old tweets. “Why wouldn’t you delete them?“ tweeted one, in a tweet I can no longer find because it has since been deleted.

At first, I was aghast. If something happens on Twitter but then gets deleted, did it even happen? Deleting it is an affront to history! Isn’t Twitter a sacred record of our (checks notes) … inane thoughts and bad jokes? Oh wait, maybe I do get it.

For what it’s worth, I’ve set my Tweets to self-destruct after 31 days.

I used TweetDelete for this function. There’s no need for these things to live on.

Facebook, Instagram, I’m wiping you out next.

Nintendo Continues To Bring LABO to Life With LABO VEHICLE KIT

Ars Technica:

Nintendo took a late-Thursday opportunity to unveil the Labo Vehicle Kit, coming this September to Nintendo Switch. The $69.99 product will include three separate build-your-own steering chassis: the Toy-Con Car, Toy-Con Plane, and Toy-Con Submarine. (Toy-Con is Nintendo’s term for toys that combine folded cardboard pieces and Switch Joy-Con controllers.)

youtu.be/vI6QzU8NX…

Looks like fun for the whole family once again.

ThinkGeek Brings STAR TREK Vulcan Earbuds To Life

ThinkGeek:

These are going to be big among the cosplayers, that’s for sure.

That said, for $40, I don’t expect them to be that great.

Bungie Finally Releases the DESTINY GRIMOIRE In Hardcover Form

Bungie Store:

I have no idea why this is coming out nearly four years after the launch of Destiny, but better late than never.

The interiors look beautiful.

The Parkway To Celebrate STANLEY KUBRICK's 90's Birthday With Retrospective Series

Maryland Film Festival / The Parkway:

Very cool series, titled “Kubrick 90”, for the Baltimore locals, at the just as awesome Parkway Theatre (which if you haven’t been, is a beautiful theatre space!)

A little birdie reached out to me with the full list of upcoming dates through the end of the year.

Check ‘em out:

The Killing - format TBD Thursday, August 9 at 7 p.m. Saturday, August 11 at 5 p.m. With fascinating detail, Kubrick lays bare the intricate inner-planning of a racetrack heist by a deadly mastermind and his crew.

2001: A Space Odyssey - 2018 Re-Release in 4K DCP (“Digital Cinema Package") Friday, August 31 (Time TBD) Humanity finds a mysterious, obviously artificial object buried beneath the Lunar surface and, with the intelligent computer HAL 9000, sets off on a quest.

Paths of Glory - DCP restoration Thursday, September 6 at 7 p.m. Saturday, September 8 at 5 p.m. Adapting Humphrey Cobb’s novel to the screen, Kubrick sets out to make a devastating anti-war statement and succeeds above and beyond the call of duty. Paths of Glory is among the most powerful anti-war films ever made.

Spartacus - 2017 4K DCP Restoration Thursday, September 20 at 7 p.m. Saturday, September 22 at 5 p.m. Kubrick’s controversial classic, the first film to openly defy Hollywood’s blacklist, remains a landmark of cinematic artistry and history.

Lolita - 35mm Thursday, October 4 at 7 p.m. Saturday, October 6 at 5 p.m. An all-star cast in Vladimir Nabakov’s screenplay of his own once-shocking, now-classic novel.

A Clockwork Orange - 35mm Thursday, October 18 at 7 p.m. Saturday, October 20 at 5 p.m. Hooligan Alex’s journey from amoral punk to brainwashed proper citizen and back again forms the dynamic arc of Kubrick’s future-shock vision of Anthony Burgess’ novel.

The Shining - DCP Wednesday, October 31 at 9:30 p.m. - HALLOWEEN! Friday, November 2nd at 9:30 p.m. Kubrick’s visually haunting chiller, based on the bestseller by master-of-suspense Stephen King, is an undeniable contemporary classic.

Full Metal Jacket - 35mm Sunday, November 11 at 4 p.m. Thursday, November 15 at 7 p.m. A superb ensemble falls in for Kubrick’s brilliant saga about the Vietnam War and the dehumanizing process that turns people into trained killers.

Dr. Strangelove - Format TBD Thursday, November 29 at 7 p.m. Saturday, December 1 at 5 p.m. This landmark satire takes the entire concept of global nuclear annihilation and turns it into black comedy

Barry Lyndon - 35mm Thursday, December 13 at 7 p.m. Saturday, December 15 at 4 p.m. Kubrick bent the conventions of the historical drama to his own will in this dazzling vision of a pitiless aristocracy, adapted from a novel by William Makepeace Thackeray

Eyes Wide Shut - 35mm Thursday, December 20 at 7 p.m. Saturday, December 22 at 5 p.m. Inspired by the 1926 novella “Traumnovelle" by Arthur Schnitzler, Kubrick’s daring and controversial last film is a bracing psychosexual journey through a haunting dreamscape.

If nothing else, I’m going to try to see The Shining and 2001 on the big screen. Click the source link to pick up tickets.

Meet The Newest CHARLIE’S ANGELS

Variety:

Directed by Elizabeth Banks.

Wonder how it will do compared to the 2000’s edition - at the least, it’s going to be lost without a kick-ass Destiny’s Child theme.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Scotland Brings Us MAYONNAISE Ice Cream

Food & Wine:

WHAT THE FUCK SCOTLAND YOU WERE COOL

Ryan Reynolds Asks: What if HOME ALONE, But Weed?’

Deadline:

….

Stoned Alone is reminiscent of that hallowed comedy classic. It centers around a twenty-something weed growing loser who misses the plane for his holiday ski trip. He makes the best of things by getting high. Paranoia sets in and he believes he hears someone break into his house. Turns out thieves have broken in. Fully stoned and fueled by paranoia, he tries to thwart the thieves and defend his castle.

Well, that’s certainly an idea.

The History of ESPN To Be Turned Into a Feature Film

Collider:

Hey! I read that! It was good! And I don’t even really follow sports all that closely!

Rut-roh.

…damnit.

FRAISER Gets Aboard the Reboot Train

Deadline:

Unlike the slew of recent revivals of comedy series with the original cast and original creative auspices, including Will & Grace, Roseanne and Murphy Brown, I hear that Frasier is envisioned as a reboot, likely set in a new city, with the title character, played by Grammer, as a possible link to the Emmy-winning 1993 series.

Cheers was good. The original run of Fraiser was good. But we already have twenty-two seasons of programing with Dr. Fraiser Crane.

Do we need more?

I recognize, we’re about to have the…38th(?) season of Doctor Who, but this feels like a little too much.

FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS Returns For A Live Special This October!

Speaking of HBO…

twitter.com/HBO/statu…

Yeah, I am in.

I always get excited when I see Jemaine and Bret in other things, so it’ll be nice to see them together like the old days.

HBO’s DEADWOOD To Hit The Big Screen

Variety:

“All of these people worked hard to get this together,“ Bloys said. “It’s been a logistics nightmare getting all the cast members’ schedules together, but we are there. It is greenlit.“

Bloys also said the movie is currently scheduled to begin shooting in October for a spring 2019 air date, but added that the date is not “set in stone.“

It’s a bummer that this will be an HBO movie, not a proper theatrical release, but I for one cannot wait to return to the world of Deadwood!

LEGO Unveils A Fantastic and Incredible HARRY POTTER Hogwarts Castle Set

The Brothers Brick:

I said goddamn.

I understand the need to go “micro-scale", but this is the most massive micro-scale set I’ve ever seen. Unreal!

SAGA to Take a Year-Long Break

Newsarama:

Quality over quantity, every time.

If this is what is needed for Vaughan and Staples to recharge and come back and do awesome, I’d take this over filler issues any day.

HAMILTON To Hit The Big Screen?

The Wall Street Journal:

Hollywood studios are currently bidding for the big-screen rights to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit musical about founding father Alexander Hamilton, according to people involved in sales talks. But in an unusual twist, the “Hamilton" movie won’t be a filmed adaptation. Instead, it is a recording of the show made in 2016 with its original cast, including Mr. Miranda in the lead role.

Apparently the asking price is a cool $50 Million.

I’d go see it in a movie theater immediately, but at the same time, this feels like such a layup for Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple’s soon-to-exist video service: the modern Broadway classic, in the comfort of your home.

I give it 5 more years after this until it gets a proper, superstar-filled movie adaptation.

MILES Offers Users Discounts…For Tracking Their Every Single Move

The Verge:

Too damn creepy for my tastes.

JONAH HILL Makes His Writing and Directing Debut With MID90S

www.youtube.com/watch

Looks like another winner for A24.

Who knew Jonah Hill had this in him?

Robert De Niro In Talks to Join JOKER Origin Film:

Hollywood Reporter:

The veteran actor is in negotiations to join Joaquin Phoenix in Warner Bros.’ upcoming Joker stand-alone movie from The Hangover helmer Todd Phillips.

Surreal. Absolutely surreal.

New Trailer for ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL

www.youtube.com/watch

Those eyes still freak me the hell out.

Some Quick Media Consumption Thoughts From Vacation

Over my vacation, I read a few books and watched a few movies, so here’s some quick thoughts on what I checked out.

Book links go to Amazon, movies go to iTunes (where applicable).

Enjoy!

R. Kelly Releases a NINETEEN MINUTE SONG To Combat Sexual Abuse Allegations

Rolling Stone:

“Now the truth in this message is I’m a broke-ass legend / The only reason I stay on tour is ’cause I gotta pay my rent,“ Kelly sings. “I never thought it would come to this, to be the most disrespected artist / So I had to write a song about it / Because they always take my words and twist it / Believe me, it’s hard to admit all this.“

Over the course of the nearly 20-minute track, Kelly openly discusses many of the accusations he’s faced in the past few years, including the allegations made by several women that the singer is operating what’s been described as a “sex cult.“

Jimminy Christmas, this is certainly not the way to tell the world you’re sane, to release a nearly 20 minute long track rambling on about all of the allegations placed against you recently.

If you don’t have the stomach for 20 minutes of R. Kelly, Vulture has a look at the worst lines from the song.

Oof.

Hey, I’m On Vacation

Hello blast-o-rama readers!

I will be on vacation from July 13th-21st, heading to beautiful Bethany Beach, Delaware.

In turn, your normal updates of this site probably won’t happen. But I know me, and at the very least, I’ll probably be sharing links (and brief thoughts) over on Twitter.

At the least, I will be back on Monday, July 23rd. Be good, nerds.

The Long-Rumored BLACK WIDOW Movie Now Has A Director

Hollywood Reporter:

Cate Shortland, the Australian director perhaps best known for the Nazi drama Lore, has signed on to direct Black Widow, Marvel’s action-adventure project that will star Scarlett Johansson.

I wonder how well this would’ve fared prior to the Ghost in the Shell/Rub ’n Tug backlash on ScarJo?

Either way - please be based on the Mark Waid/Chris Samnee run. K thx bye.

Marvel Unveils Their Exclusive Line of SDCC 2018 Merch

Marvel:

I can’t front - were I attending San Diego, between shirts, pins, cool caps, etc. - I’d be dropping a lot of cash at the Marvel booth.

The World of BLADE RUNNER Coming To Comics and Graphic Novels

EW.com:

Very cool. Surprised this hasn’t happened sooner!

Dark Horse Comics To Produce William Gibson’s ALIEN 3 Script In Comic Form!

CBR:

I love when projects like these pop up. Even for as oblique to read as it was, this is why I enjoyed the The Star Wars comic book project.

New Trailer for POKEMON: LET’S GO PIKACHU/EEVEE

youtu.be/BSL7l2Ie_…

Goddamnit that’s adorable.

Nerdist Reveals Mondo’s JURASSIC PARK Board Game

Nerdist:

I really like the idea of the four factions. Wonder how it plays?

MONDO Bringing CASTLEVANIA Goods to SDCC

Mashable:

Holy shit, Becky Cloonan killed that Symphony of the Night poster!

New SMASH BROS Amiibo Coming, And Re-Releases To Follow

twitter.com/NintendoV…

…I don’t need to start collecting Amiibo…

…I don’t need to start collecting Amiibo…

…I don’t need to start collecting Amiibo…

…I don’t need to start collecting Amiibo…

…I don’t need to start collecting Amiibo…

Apple Releases New MacBook Pros

Apple Newsroom:

Surprise!

Hmm. My work laptop is starting to show its age…

Casper Opens A Nap Store in NYC

TechCrunch:

In The Dreamery, you can reserve nooks for 45 minutes at a time, at a cost of $25 per session. These nooks are basically giant wooden “O"s with curtains and soundproofed backing, and of course they’re stocked with Casper beds.

Do I just start yelling podcast names at the staff to get money off?

Tim Heidecker Joins Jordan Peele’s US

Variety:

He joins Lupita Nyong’o, Elisabeth Moss, and Winston Duke in the Universal pic. Heidecker’s role is being kept under wraps.

After Get Out, I was in for this movie.

These cast selections are just sealing the deal even further.

The Y: THE LAST MAN TV Series Is REAL! Cast Announced!

Hollywood Reporter:

Diane Lane (Under the Tuscan Sun), Barry Keoghan (Dunkirk), Imogen Poots (Green Room), Lashana Lynch (Captain Marvel), Juliana Canfield (Succession) and Marin Ireland (Sneaky Pete) will star in Michael Green’s adaptation of Brian K. Vaughan’s comic series.

What a cast! Can’t wait!

YouTube To Release A Tool To Detect Re-Uploaded Videos

Variety:

I sure hope this kills off all of those awful “SUPER COOL MOVIE TRAILERS HD" pages.

(I know, I know, it’ll help YouTubers who are making their bread and butter off the service.)

LEGO Reveals SDCC 2018 Exclusive BLACK LIGHTNING Mini-Figure

The Brothers Brick:

Looks good to me!

90’s Comics Continue to be So Hot Right Now: PROPHET Movie Rights Bought

Deadline:

Sadly, I’m pretty sure this will be more like the 90’s Rob Liefeld run, not the dope, surreal, french sci-fi take of the most recent run.

NEIL BLOMKAMP To Direct ROBOCOP RETURNS

Deadline:

HOLY SHIT THIS RULES.

Let Blomkamp bring his amazing eye to the picture, let someone else handle the writing. This should be awesome.

G. Willow Wilson Heads to DC Comics To Take On WONDER WOMAN

DC Comics:

Wilson has won several prestigious literary awards, including the Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story in 2015 and the Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in 2016 for the Muslim-American character Kamala Khan, a.k.a. Ms. Marvel. Wilson is also no stranger to DC, having previously written SUPERMAN, VIXEN and THE OUTSIDERS, as well as DC Vertigo titles CAIRO and AIR. She takes over the ongoing adventures of the Amazon Warrior this November with her debut story arc, “The Just War.“

Well deserved. Wilson is a hell of a writer.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Sega Brings Sonic To…Toasters

Sega:

The 1000 toaster count was met quickly and you can get one of your own for $35.

Disney Signs Exclusive Broadcast Rights to OVERWATCH LEAGUE

ESPN:

The multi-year broadcast deal includes the Overwatch League playoffs – which begin Wednesday night – the Season 1 grand finals from the Barclays Center in New York next month and Overwatch League Season 2 next year. In all, professional Overwatch will be broadcast in some fashion on the flagship ESPN network, ESPN2, Disney XD, ABC and streaming services for the term of the agreement.

Need some proof that the world has changed?

Disney just outbid others for the rights to broadcast a video game tournament.

SYFY Wire Gets An Exclusive Look at Some of Mondo’s SDCC 2018 Merch

SYFY Wire:

I’ve highlighted the beautiful print for The Shape of Water coming by Daniel Danger above, but there’s also a variant, a print for Beneath the Planet of the Apes by Eric Powell, and a toy of Half-Life lead Gordon Freeman coming.

Check em all out at the source link.

Alas, No DWAYNE 2020

Vanity Fair:

“Unfortunately I don’t see it happening in 2020. It’s a position that requires years of hard work and experience to learn the skills. There’s a lot of ground to cover, and due to my schedule, it’s not possible in 2020,“ Johnson said at the New York premiere of his latest movie, Skyscraper, on Tuesday. “I have so much respect for the position. It’s something that I seriously considered. What I need is time to go out and learn.“

So you tell me that I’m going to have to vote for someone with a history of being a part of the political system? And NOT one of my favorite action stars/wrassle men?

Goddamnit.

The First, Official Image from SHAZAM Is HERE!

EW.com:

Here we see orphaned 14-year-old Billy Batson, who can transform into a grown-up superhero (Levi, who starred on NBC’s Chuck) with an array of powers by saying the magic word. Billy is shown on a soda run with fellow orphan Freddy Feeman (Jack Dylan Grazer, who played the hypochondriac Eddie in It).

Oh my, that looks fun.

Simon Pegg Opens Up About Depression & Alcoholism

The Guardian:

“You have caught me at the best possible moment,“ he says, shaking my hand and downing a coffee. “This will be the most enthusiastic, positive and interesting I will ever be. You have got the mother lode!“

And then he sits down to talk about depression. And alcoholism. And how he spent years trying to hide it, and how he nearly lost everything, and how he is lucky to even be alive. “It was awful, terrible,“ he says. “It owned me.“ Suddenly, this roof terrace in east London doesn’t seem so sunny.

Wow. I had no idea. Love Simon Pegg’s work dearly, and I cannot underline enough how strong he is to go on the record about his struggles publicly.

More Puppet Action For the Family in This GOOSEBUMPS 2: HAUNTED HALLOWEEN Trailer

youtu.be/nQeOzfm-l…

I had heard the first Goosebumps was actually really, super fun. Confirm/deny, dear Internet?

#FastFoodArmsRace: Baskin-Robbins Weaponizes The Milkshake With New “Freak Shakes"

Chew Boom:

Unicorn Freak Shake: A Cotton Candy milkshake with a scoop of Cotton Candy ice cream topped with Charms Fluffy Stuff Cotton Candy, Airheads Xtreme Rainbow Berry Sweetly Sour Candy strips, a sugar cone and finished with a cherry, rainbow sprinkles, marshmallow garnish and whipped topping.

Oreo n Cookies Freak Shake: An Oreo Cookies n Cream milkshake topped with a scoop of Oreo Cookies n Cream ice cream and garnished with a hot fudge drizzle, whipped topping, a slice of Oreo Cookies n Cream Polar Pizza and finished with a sugar cone, cherry and Oreo cookie pieces.

?Donut Shop Freak Shake: A Jamoca Almond Fudge milkshake with a scoop of Jamoca Almond Fudge ice cream topped with hot >udge, whipped topping, Dunkin’ Donuts Powdered and Chocolate Munchkins donut hole treats, a Dunkin’ Donuts Chocolate Frosted with Sprinkles Donut and finished with a sugar cone, cherry and rainbow sprinkles.

These will kill you. You will die.

Available July 15th-31st.

LEGO Making Huge Strides to Go Sustainable By 2030

Brick Fanatics:

Wow, I honestly can’t see the difference between the “unsustainable" piece and the “sustainable" one.

Props to LEGO for taking such an important task head-on, and seeming to knock it out of the park.

Turns Out, NO, Your Phone ISN’T Listening To You. It’s Doing Worse Things

Gizmodo:

Some computer science academics at Northeastern University had heard enough people talking about this technological myth that they decided to do a rigorous study to tackle it. For the last year, Elleen Pan, Jingjing Ren, Martina Lindorfer, Christo Wilson, and David Choffnes ran an experiment involving more than 17,000 of the most popular apps on Android to find out whether any of them were secretly using the phone’s mic to capture audio. The apps included those belonging to Facebook, as well as over 8,000 apps that send information to Facebook.

Sorry, conspiracy theorists: They found no evidence of an app unexpectedly activating the microphone or sending audio out when not prompted to do so. Like good scientists, they refuse to say that their study definitively proves that your phone isn’t secretly listening to you, but they didn’t find a single instance of it happening. Instead, they discovered a different disturbing practice: apps recording a phone’s screen and sending that information out to third parties.

Crazy, right?

But at the same time, let’s add “My phone is listening to me, right?“ in the pile of bullshit alongside “You should manually close apps on your iPhone.“

(Real talk, the other day, I was at the airport and witnessed someone opening apps and closing them immediately after use, constantly going back and forth. WHY DO THAT TO YOURSELF)

That JOKER Origin Movie Is Moving Forward, but at Least It’s Not Jared Leto

Hollywood Reporter :

Joaquin Phoenix recently finalized his deal to star as the arch-nemesis of Batman and shooting is set to begin in September in New York.

Todd Phillips is directing the film and co-wrote the script, which the studio describes as being an “exploration of a man disregarded by society [that] is not only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale.“ Scott Silver co-wrote the script.

I’m all for a good, interesting comic book movie, but wasn’t one of the best lessons from The Dark Knight that we didn’t need to know the Joker’s origin, and he was more interesting as a force of nature?

Jason Momoa to Star in SEE for Apple

Hollywood Reporter:

A month after exiting the Crow reboot, the Game of Thrones grad has been tapped to star in Apple’s drama series See.

See is described as an epic, world-building drama set in the future. Momoa will star in a lead role as Baba Voss, who is a fearless warrior, leader and guardian. Additional details about the eight-episode project are being kept under wraps.

Sounds interesting, but say it with me…

Hey, Apple - where can I watch this?

QUANTUM AND WOODY Is Heading to TBS!

Deadline:

We’re now in a world where B-Level Valiant comics are getting TV shows.

What a surreal universe this is.

Apple Deploying 1Password To All Employees, Acquisition to Follow?

BGR:

That would be an incredibly wise acquisition.

1Password is my first installed app on every device I own. I’d love to see it become native.

UPDATE: Definitely not happening.

twitter.com/1Password…

Billy Dee Williams to Return for STAR WARS: EPISODE IX

Hollywood Reporter:

The actor, who famously played the galactic gambler Lando Calrissian, will reprise the role for Star Wars: Episode IX, the next Star Wars installment from Lucasfilm.

Tremendous news.

JEREMY RENNER Joins the New SPAWN Film

Deadline:

He’ll be playing Detective Twitch. No word on who will be his Sam, or if there will be one. (John Goodman would rule.)

Today In Private Data Leaks - TIMEHOP!

Motherboard:

Check your data, kids. Here’s another one.

LEGO Unveils SHERIFF DEADPOOL SDCC 2018 Exclusive

The Brothers Brick:

I literally have no idea if this has ever been a storyline thing for Deadpool.

But damn, that mustache is exquisite!

The New Head of HBO Wants It To Be Netflix. About that…

The New York Times:

Mr. Stankey described a future in which HBO would substantially increase its subscriber base and the number of hours that viewers spend watching its shows. To pull it off, the network will have to come up with more content, transforming itself from a boutique operation, with a focus on its signature Sunday night lineup, into something bigger and broader.

“We need hours a day,“ Mr. Stankey said, referring to the time viewers spend watching HBO programs. “It’s not hours a week, and it’s not hours a month. We need hours a day. You are competing with devices that sit in people’s hands that capture their attention every 15 minutes.“

Continuing the theme, he added: “I want more hours of engagement. Why are more hours of engagement important? Because you get more data and information about a customer that then allows you to do things like monetize through alternate models of advertising as well as subscriptions, which I think is very important to play in tomorrow’s world.“

I hope you guys liked HBO, because this story doesn’t end well. HBO isn’t Netflix. HBO will never be Netflix.

The “boutique operation" idea? That is what makes HBO stand out in the world of a Netflix. A handpicked selection of content which is better than the rest. A prestige product.

That is what HBO is. And that is what HBO should be.

Some Quick Thoughts on ANT-MAN AND THE WASP (2018)

Yesterday afternoon I had the pleasure of taking in the latest adventure from the creative minds at Marvel Studios, Ant-Man and the Wasp.

While I enjoyed the first Ant-Man, one of the hardest struggles I had with the movie was letting go of what could’ve been with the potential Edgar Wright version. I’m pleased to say that without this baggage, I had an infinity more enjoyable time with this installment, and would go so far as to say that it’s one of the most delightful flicks in the Marvel Cinematic Universe thus far.

Here are some quick thoughts on the movie:

On the whole, the stakes are inconsequential in Ant-Man and the Wasp, but the resulting film is a really energetic, incredibly funny romp. Now that Peyton Reed finally had an Ant-Man movie which was completely his own, I’d love to see a third pairing.

Ant-Man and the Wasp is in theaters now.

On This Occasion of Steve Ditko’s Death

Vulture:

I needed to share this incredible piece by Abraham Riesman.

Really underlines why Ditko stood out among the other 60’s-era Marvel names.

Truly one of a kind, for better or worse.

RIP Steve Ditko

Hollywood Reporter:

The New York Police Department confirmed his death to The Hollywood Reporter. No cause of death was announced. Ditko was found dead in his apartment on June 29 and it is believed he died about two days earlier.

Steve Ditko gave us one of the greatest heroes of superhero fiction, full stop.

You can debate, discuss, and ponder the wild ways his later career went, but he’ll always be one of the greats.

Godspeed.

SHATTERSTAR Gets A Solo Series from Marvel

Marvel:

A gladiator, a warrior, and a Super Hero…Shatterstar has been many different things, but throughout it all, he’s always been deadly. This fall, enter the darkness with SHATTERSTAR #1!

Written by Tim Seeley with art by Carlos Villa, the limited series will be a new birth for the long-beloved character.

Wow, the X-Force characters are so hot right now. Shame that he seems to be missing his weird face helmet thing.

KERI RUSSELL Joining STAR WARS: EPISODE IX

Variety:

Sources tell Variety that J.J. Abrams is in early talks with the “Felicity" alum to join “Star Wars: Episode IX,“ which Abrams is writing and directing. Russell and Abrams last collaborated on 2006’s “Mission: Impossible III.“

What timing - I was watching Mission: Impossible III earlier today.

Bring on Felicity!

What Happens in an Era of Full Employment?

…speaking of employment…

The Atlantic:

Full employment — that magical economic state, in which everyone who wants work has it, and at a good wage too — finally seems to be near. In much of Iowa, it already is. Out of every 100 people who want a job, 98 or 99 have one. The rate of wage growth has doubled of late, and businesses are scrambling to find workers. “It does feel like things are a little different in the last year,“ Elisabeth Buck, the president of the United Way of Central Iowa, told me. “Businesses are getting a little desperate.“

In that, Des Moines and the surrounding area stand as an example of what might be coming for the national economy, both good and bad. Full employment has a remarkable way of improving the lives of low-wage workers and drawing new individuals into the labor force. But it also exposes the scars that even a very hot economy is unable to heal.

Really interesting read - will have to keep some of this in the back of my mind come review season.

(Don’t worry, your standard nerdy links coming again soon. Just two interesting reads.)

Your Anxiety Can Make You A Better Employee?

Slate:

I’m not alone. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, only one-fourth of those with an anxiety disorder have told their employers about their diagnosis. Thirty-eight percent of those who hadn’t worried that “their boss would interpret it as lack of interest or unwillingness to do the activity" while 34 percent of them worried it would affect their promotion opportunities.

But recently, I’ve come to realize my anxiety isn’t holding me back at work but actually making me a better employee.

Interesting.

As someone who has anxiety issues (WHAT UP I’M ON LEXAPRO), I’ve rarely thought of my anxiousness as a benefit in the workforce, but this makes a strong argument.

Vice Press Celebrates WALLACE & GROMIT With a GRAND DAY OUT PRINT

Vice Press:

This is SO GREAT. Available on Tuesday, July 10th.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Taco Bell India Sure Hopes You Love Potatoes

Brand Eating:

The combination of potato and taco features a hash brown-like taco shell that’s made of potato and “Mexican spices.” The Potaco is a vegetarian item that comes filled with lettuce, fiesta salsa, cheese, and “signature sauces.”

…can they bring this to the states? Potato-obsessed taco hounds NEED to know.

Artist Ming Doyle Looks Through the Eyes of Bruce Wayne and Brings Us ANATOMY OF A METAHUMAN

twitter.com/mingdoyle…

What a cool idea for a book!

Here’s the full synopsis of it:

Concerned about the threat that so-called “metahumans" may pose to the world, Batman has begun compiling a detailed dossier on their incredible physiology and abilities. From villains like Killer Croc, Bane, and Brainiac, to Batman’s own comrades, including Superman and Cyborg, the file brings together the Dark Knight’s fascinating personal theories on the unique anatomical composition of these formidable individuals.

This stunning and unique book delves into the incredible abilities of DC Comics characters like never before. Using beautifully illustrated anatomical cross sections depicting twelve different DC characters, the book, told from Batman’s unique perspective, will explore how these “metahumans" physical makeup differs significantly from that of the average person. From detailed theories on how Superman’s eyes shoot heat rays to an in-depth exploration of how Aquaman is able to breathe under water, the book delves into the deepest secrets of these classic characters. Also featuring chapters on the anatomy and abilities of Doomsday, Aquaman, Swamp Thing, Darkseid, Martian Manhunter, and more, this one-of-a-kind book will change the way you look at metahumans forever.

Pick it up on Amazon here. Releases in September.

Nicolas Cage Joins the Voice Cast of SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE

Collider:

This is Spider-Man Noir, by the way.

What an amazing, surreal world we live in now where this is a big screen blockbuster.

Can’t wait!

LEGENDARY PICTURES Announces Live-Action GUNDAM Film At ANIME EXPO!

Deadline:

Of note, Legendary Pictures produced Pacific Rim, the closest a Hollywood movie studio has gotten to going full anime.

This could actually be good?

’Did blogs ruin the web? Or did the web ruin blogs?’

Kottke.org:

I recognize that I am, essentially, posting a link to one site which is telling you to read three more links, but I believe that all three are worth reading.

I make no qualms about how Kottke.org is an inspiration for that which I’m trying to do with blast-o-rama. now, even if my focus is so much more on me sharing links to things I find interesting, and giving a quick fire opinion on them.

But in the same regard, the goal of this site now — besides being a centralized hub of stuff I think is cool or interesting — is about walking away from things which are owned and controlled by others and taking a stake in a web which you yourself control and own. (Even if I’m using a backend in WordPress which is owned, operated, updated and maintained by others.)

My relationship with the Internet is so weird.

It literally pays my bills, but I consider it harmful and toxic. I filter it to give me the things I think I’d want more, but still participate in the elements I find most harmful (looking at you, Facebook.) And in all of that, I think there’s been no greater communicational or informational medium ever.

The best things in my life happened because of the web. And in many ways, so did the worst.

But I aim to be the change. And maybe more of us can, if we look at what worked, what failed, and what could be?

MoviePass Surge Pricing Is Here

Engadget:

Per the screenshots shown, it looks like the peak pricing fees won’t be too high ($3.43?), but we’ll have to see how things change over time.

I will say that this fits in more with MoviePass’s original pitch to exhibitors of trying to get people in during slower periods of time/less attended screenings.

Sideshow Toy Has The Life-Size BB-8 of Your Dreams

Sideshow Toy:

Can be yours for the low, low price of $3,950.

IDRIS ELBA to Play Lead Villain in HOBBS & SHAW FAST AND FURIOUS Spinoff!

Variety:

“Deadpool 2" director David Leitch is on board to helm, with Johnson and Statham reprising their roles as special agent Luke Hobbs and criminal mastermind Deckard Shaw, respectively. “Fast and Furious" architect Chris Morgan penned the script, with production set to commence this fall.

SHIT YEAH

Ever Want a Replica of the Barbasol Can from JURASSIC PARK? For $200, You’ll Be Able to Own One

io9:

That’s because io9 can exclusively reveal Chronicle Collectibles has teamed with Universal Studios and Barbasol to make an officially licensed, screen accurate prop replica of the cryogenic Barbasol can from Jurassic Park, just like the one Dodgson brings for Nedry in the movie, so the disgruntled employee can smuggle Dino embryos out of the park.

Genius. Not sure if it’s $200 worth of genius, but I’ve seen crazier prices for screen-replica props.

The Brilliant Intros of George Shea, or, the Real Reason I Watch the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

The Ringer:

These intros are some of the greatest, most grandiose introductions to one of the most hilarious pieces of Americana we have every Fourth of July.

Thanks for sharing the link with me, Ross. We need to step up our SAF intro game.

The Holiday Toy Catalog LIVES, Thanks to...AMAZON?!

Bloomberg:

In a drive to win the business up for grabs after the demise of Toys “R" Us Inc., the online giant is going conventional with plans to publish a holiday toy catalog, according to people with knowledge of the strategy. The printed guide will be mailed to millions of U.S. households and handed out at Whole Foods Market locations, the grocery chain Amazon bought last year, said the people, who asked not to be named because the plan isn’t public.

Smart move by Amazon. Plus, it keeps a yearly tradition alive.

I spent far too much time as a child circling my most wanted items in the Toys R Us and Sears catalogs.

A Look Behind SONG EXPLODER

Lifehacker:

I always enjoy these “How I Work" posts on Lifehacker, but when it also involves a behind-the-scenes look at one of my favorite podcasts (Song Exploder), I’m doubly excited about it.

Check it out, and check out Song Exploder too!

The Team That Brought You TURBO KID Is Back With SUMMER OF 84

www.youtube.com/watch

The 80’s and synth love remains with the Roadkill Superstar team.

Looks real fun, though.

I Guess We’re Getting a Prequel Movie for THE SOPRANOS?

TheWrap:

I’m not sure this is something people are clamoring for, especially with it being set decades before the show, but I’ve heard of worse ideas.

You Can’t Keep Chucky Down: CHILD’S PLAY Remake Is Coming

Hollywood Reporter:

MGM is fast-tracking the project, which has Lars Klevberg, the Norwegian filmmaker behind the horror movie Polaroid, in the director’s chair as it heads toward a production start in Vancouver this September.

Last I had heard, the past few direct-to-video installments had been pretty good, but evidently the need to reboot was strong.

MoviePass Now Angling To Raise $1.2 BILLION In Debt

Hollywood Reporter:

The company filed a shelf registration that will offer institutional investors equity and debt, and Helios and Matheson CEO Ted Farnsworth tells The Hollywood Reporter that he’ll likely access the $1.2 billion over the course of a year or two.

I don’t know that MoviePass will ever be what they want to be - especially now that cinemas are rolling out their own MoviePass-like plans. But I admire their “never give up" attitude. Even if I think they’re crazy to do so.

Mondo Resurrects the Original JAWS Poster With An All-Star Team of Talent

Mondo:

The poster goes on sale later today, along with a print of the artwork for the novel (which was adapted as a poster), and even an enamel pin set.

Check it out!

Scarlett Johansson to Star in RUB & TUG

Deadline:

Click the link - the real-life story this is based on sounds incredibly fascinating.

I think that the title of the film will have to change before release, though, as most people will - sadly - laugh it off.

Facebook Let Blocked Users See You and Message You, Due to a Software Bug

Recode:

After months of nonstop drama centered around Facebook’s privacy policies, which included multiple formal hearings for CEO Mark Zuckerberg in front of U.S. and EU lawmakers, the company on Monday announced another privacy issue: A software bug “unblocked" some people who had previously been blocked by another user, meaning the unblocked user could suddenly see some posts from the person who blocked them.

The bug also meant that the person who had been blocked may have been able to reach out via Messenger to the person who blocked them, Facebook said in a blog post. The bug affected 800,000 users and was live for about a week at the end of May and early June.

Great work, Zuckerberg. Great work.

Samsung Phones Are Randomly Texting Photos to Your Contacts Now

Gizmodo:

Hey, it could be worse, they could be exploding again.

#FastFoodArmsRace: a Freakin’ CrunchBerry Slurpee!

www.twitter.com/slurpee/s…

YOU CRAZY FO THIS ONE, 7-ELEVEN

#FastFoodArmsRace: Funko Brings Us Cereal With FunkO’s!

Funko:

An awesome mix of licenses and fun toys. Now, what percentage of these cereals do you think will actually be eaten?

IT - CHAPTER TWO: Say Hello to the Adult Losers Club

www.twitter.com/ITMovieOf…

I love this cast. I hope the sequel is as great as the original.

One Final Trailer for SKYSCRAPER

www.youtube.com/watch

This is exactly the type of gloriously dumb movie that I subscribe to stuff like MoviePass and AMC A-List for.

Take me away from the awfulness of the world for two hours, Dwayne! And solve my problems with explosions!

First Trailer for the Korean Live-Action JIN-ROH Adaptation

youtu.be/LeNb0A3_0…

Looks very respectful of the source material. I know there are some late 90’s/early 00’s anime heads like myself reading this, so I’d imagine you’d be just as excited to see this. Enjoy!

Kumail Nanjiani Joins the MEN IN BLACK Reboot

TheWrap:

What a cool cast they’re pulling together for the next MIB flick.

I sure hope we get a Will Smith theme regardless.

JIM CARREY IS DOCTOR ROBOTNIK IN SONIC THE HEDGEHOG!?!

Deadline:

What a world we live in. This is going to be insane.

Netflix Just Gave a Show to That Dude From THE RAID

Deadline:

SHIT YEAH

The Actual Burgers From Bob’s Burgers Are Coming Home via Blue Apron

Food & Wine:

Or, alternatively, you can get the cookbook.

Greta Gerwig’s Next Film: A Remake of LITTLE WOMEN

Variety:

A-listers Meryl Streep, Emma Stone, Saoirse Ronan, and Timothee Chalamet are in talks to star in Columbia Pictures’ retelling of the American classic with Florence Pugh also in talks to star. The movie would mark a reunion for Gerwig, Ronan, and Chalamet. The young actors starred in 2017’s coming-of-age comedy “Lady Bird.“

That’s a killer cast. Can’t wait to see who else lines up for this.

In truth, I’d prefer to see another original picture from Gerwig, but I look forward to this just the same.

Apple Is Rebuilding Maps, Completely

TechCrunch:

Maps needs fixing.

Apple, it turns out, is aware of this, so It’s re-building the maps part of Maps.

I saw an Apple Maps truck out and about somewhere in Baltimore around a year ago. I wonder if this is why.

Hasbro Unveils (For Real This Time) their SDCC 2018 Defenders Action Figure Set

Hollywood Reporter:

The characters — including Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Daredevil, Iron Fist and Colleen Wing — are featured in the Marvel Legends Series Defenders Rail Authority 5-Pack.

The six-inch figures come with multiple points of articulation and have detailed stylings. The pack also comes with five accessories.

Like all Hasbro convention exclusives, the original packaging is a key part of the appeal and this one is a fun one: underground New York City public transit.

THR accidentally tweeted about this a few weeks back, but here’s the full reveal.

The Iron Fist is really well done, for such a lame-ass interpretation of a great character.

Danny McBride & John Goodman to Take On Televangelism For HBO

Hollywood Reporter:

The premium cable network has handed out a pilot order to the comedy The Righteous Gemstones.

McBride created the project and will pen the script, executive produce, direct and star in the story of a world-famous televangelist family with a long tradition of deviance, greed and charitable work, all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

John Goodman (Roseanne) will star as Eli Gemstone, the patriarch of the Gemstone family. The character is described as unbending and a force in the ministry game. He is known the world over for his aggressive salvation techniques, his global ministries and his award-winning weekly television program. His light is fading, but he takes no guff. He is obeyed, unquestioned.

McBride will portray Jesse Gemstone, the eldest son and heir to the throne. He walks in his father’s shadow while simultaneously blazing his own path. Like Eli, Jesse takes no shit and demands loyalty from those in his circle and surrounds himself by those that will follow him. Jesse fancies himself a maverick in the ministry game, taking what Eli has built and expanding it for a more modern audience.

This sounds really, really fun. Could be another winner for Home Box Office.

First Teaser Poster for GLASS

Word is we’ll be seeing the trailer for the next installment of the Unbreakable/Split saga at SDCC next month.

Google Looking to Enter the Video Game Console Market?

Kotaku:

We haven’t heard many specifics about Google’s video game plans, but what we have heard is that it’s a three-pronged approach: 1) Some sort of streaming platform, 2) some sort of hardware, and 3) an attempt to bring game developers under the Google umbrella, whether through aggressive recruiting or even major acquisitions. That’s the word from five people who have either been briefed on Google’s plans or heard about them secondhand.

Buck wild. Would love to see what comes of this.

RIP Harlan Ellison

Vulture:

While his work was untouchable, what I remember him most was from being sort of a nerd Andy Rooney on the Sci-Fi Buzz program on the Sci-Fi Channel.

www.youtube.com/watch

Rest in Power, good sir.

THE VENTURE BROS Returns With Season 7 on August 5th!

www.youtube.com/watch

About time.

More On OVERWATCH’s New Hero: WRECKING BALL, the Hamster!

www.youtube.com/watch

More details on Hammond, the adorable hamster, here.

INDIANA JONES 5 To Get A Writer with SOLO History

Collider:

Collider clearly has some good sources at Lucasfilm these days.

Showtime Finally Moving Forward With HALO TV Series

Hollywood Reporter:

The premium cable network announced Thursday that it has picked up 10 episodes of the live-action scripted drama series, with Kyle Killen (Awake) set to serve as exec producer, writer and showrunner. Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) will direct multiple episodes of the series and serve as an exec producer.

Very cool! I know this has been long in the works, so I’m glad to see it finally moving forward.

Netflix Reveals DISENCHANTMENT

www.youtube.com/watch

There’s not much to it, but here’s our first teaser for Disenchantment, which underlines how Matt Groening might be playing it safe here.

Hits Netflix in August.

DC UNIVERSE Streaming Service Officially Revealed

As promised yesterday, the veil has been removed and DC Comics’ streaming service “DC UNIVERSE" has been revealed ahead of San Diego Comic Con.

The rumors proved to be true, as this is a mixture of original content, classic DC animated series (for the first time in HD), Warner Bros superhero films (the classics, not the newer DCEU, yet), and the DC animated films, plus a “curated selection" of comics.

I think depending on the scope and size of the library of existing TV series, movies, and comics, this could be a big contender to Marvel’s “Marvel Unlimited" service. The draw of reading comics on a big screen is pretty cool - but the price really needs to be right.

You can sign up to be considered for the Beta today - check it out. I know I’ll give it a shot.

OVERWATCH Adds…A HAMSTER IN A MECH SUIT?!

twitter.com/PlayOverw…

Your guess is as good as mine, gang.

LEGO Reveals 2,300+ Piece LEGO Ideas VOLTRON Set, Available First at SDCC

The Brothers Brick:

Absolutely unreal. IT EVEN TRANSFORMS.

That said, I’m surprised at the lack of Pilot mini-figures for $180.

The Rock Launches His Own Headphones with JBL and Under Armour

The Verge:

You can buy em here. They’re very utilitarian. Would probably go well with the OtterBox crowd.

Apple Looking Into a News/TV/Music Subscription Bundle

The Information:

Essentially, this would be the combination of Apple Music, their new TV and movie projects, and their acquisition of digital magazine service Texture.

I have to admit - I’m interested, but I’m wary of Yet Another Subscription Service.

I pay $50/year now to use FeedBin (which I adore), but as MacStories so accurately pointed out with an article the other day, sometimes it’s just easier to go all first-party. Especially with how much time I dedicate to tweaking and using third-party apps.

Goddamnit, Jared Leto to Play MORBIUS: THE LIVING VAMPIRE

Variety:

Fucking why?

DC UNIVERSE Streaming Service To Be Revealed Tomorrow

twitter.com/kellysue/…

A number of accounts across Twitter are sharing the above teaser video promising that the long-nascent DC Universe streaming service will have some sort of a reveal tomorrow.

Thus far, we know that DC Universe will be home to a number of new series, including a live-action Titans, animated Harley Qunn and Swamp Thing series, and a live-action Doom Patrol, among others.

That video above, though? Those are hero images for existing DC Comics animated series, DC Animated Films, and yep, even comics.

I guess this really is the movie / TV / comics hybrid long rumored, eh?

More tomorrow after the announcement.

Our First Look at Kristen Wiig in WONDER WOMAN 1984

twitter.com/PattyJenk…

That’s the future Cheetah, Barbara Minerva, there.

Maybe it’s because I just saw Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, but I’m getting some creepy vibes from that museum set.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Dunkin Donuts Takes DONUT FRIES Nationwide

Dunkin Donuts:

Dunkin’ Donuts’ newest snack serves a sweet spin on classic fries, creating a fun, easy-to-eat way to enjoy the delight of donuts while on the go any time of day. Donut Fries feature individual pieces of delicious, buttery croissant style donut dough that are tossed in cinnamon sugar and served warm with just the right amount of crisp. Perfect for sharing, five Donut Fries come with each order, served at a special price of $2.

 

Goddamnit, these actually sound delicious. There goes my diet.

Gorgeous New STAR WARS TRILOGY Prints From Matt Ferguson and Bottleneck Gallery

/Film:

I adore how fun and funky these are. You going to pick them up, dear reader?

#FastFoodArmsRace: Burger King and Budweiser Combine To Create The AMERICAN BREWHOUSE KING SANDWICH

Burger King & Budweiser have teamed up on a new burger, and to celebrate it…a classic commercial is back, in BK form.

www.youtube.com/watch

What is that American Brewhouse King Sandwich, by the by?

Your guess is as good as mine as to what “tavern sauce” is.

#FastFoodArmsRace: TACO BELL Celebrates 25 Years of DEMOLITION MAN with Nacho Fries Pop-Up Event at SDCC!

SDCC Unofficial Blog:

The 1993 film (starring Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes) is set in the year 2032, and predicted a dystopian future in which Taco Bell was the only restaurant to survive the “franchise wars", so all restaurants became Taco Bell. Also in this future, Taco Bell’s Nacho Fries (seasoned fries served with nacho dipping sauce, the stuff of legends) never left the menu.

Taco Bell will be bringing their Nacho Fries back to menus nationwide on July 12, but later in the month during San Diego Comic-Con, on Thursday, July 19 — Sunday, July 22. They will offer a Demolition Man pop-up and a futuristic and upscale Taco Bell dining experience near the convention center, where you’ll presumably be able to pick up some Nacho Fries while you wait.

Please, dear god, make the nerds use the three seashells in the bathroom.

Also, hey! The Nacho Fries are back. Sweet.

LEGO Reveals HARRY POTTER Blind Bag Collectible Minifigure Series

Brick Fanatics:

After first being rumoured last December, an official announcement — with images — has arrived. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is coming to the LEGO Collectible Minifigures theme, with a special series covering the entirety of the mythos — from the classic Harry Potter stories to the new Fantastic Beasts films.

Here’s the full lineup:

They’re due in August. This will probably be the most popular Minifigure series since The Simpsons.

The RISE OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Theme Sure Sounds Familiar

www.youtube.com/watch

Bold move to invoke a classic, but I think they do a great job of making it their own.

The kinetic nature of the designs and animation is really making this new era of TMNT appealing. What say you?

Some thoughts on JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM (2018)

This evening, I took in a screening of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. I wanted to share some quick-fire thoughts on the movie, but note - there will be some minor spoilers. Nothing you can’t find out from the trailers, of course.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is in theaters now.

The MoviePass Killer? Some First-Hand Thoughts on AMC STUBS A-List

Ladies and Gentlemen, I have seen the future of going to the movie theater, and it is the subscription service.

As avid readers of this blog know, I was a strong voice for the Part 1, Part 2) here at blast-o-rama.

That said, while I’ve been a happy MoviePass customer since, there have been some issues which had been eating at me:

In the wee hours of Tuesday morning, things changed.

As long rumored - AMC Theatres revealed their “MoviePass Killer" - AMC Stubs A-List. Being an avid movie fan, and doing it “for the blog", I immediately signed up. My most commonly visited movie theater is an AMC anyway, so what could it hurt?

While the cost is higher - $19.99/month, versus the $9.99/month I was paying to MoviePass - A-List is a glorious glimpse of what MoviePass could’ve been.

Sign-up was quick and easy. As an existing Stubs member, I just had to open up the AMC app, tap the big “Join Now" banner, and upgrade.

It took all of two minutes (confirming my credit card for payment, and photo ID info), and I could immediately go about “reserving" my movies.

Unlike MoviePass, A-List has a limit to it - 3 movies per week, with the week resetting every Friday. Don’t use all three that week? Too bad, no storing them.

Reserving the movies is just like buying a ticket. Point by point, step by step, the same. You pick your screening, pick your ticket, pick your seat, and check out.

The key difference, of course, is that your ticket is “Free".

What’s really great about this process is that if you are going with - for my example, my wife - or a group of friends, or any other outing beyond solo, you can buy your tickets together. You just have to pay for the overage.

To add additional screenings, just Make a Reservation. Need to change up your selections for the week? Awesome, just cancel your reservation prior to showtime. And even better - you can go to ANY screening. 2D, 3D, IMAX, Dolby - if they’ve got it, you can see it. In turn, to get the most bang for my buck, my first choice was a Dolby Cinema screening of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

All this can be done in-app, or as I’ve shown above, they’re accessible via the AMCTheaters.com website.

These reservations work exactly like e-tickets from the existing AMC app, so you can even add them to your Apple Wallet if you’re an iOS user like me. (And if you’re super OCD like me, you can even add the calendar invite too, which will show you when exactly your screening will get out.)

Upon getting to the theater this evening for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, this was the big moment - got my pass for the 7pm show, let’s get in there and see what happens…

…and honestly, it couldn’t be easier.

You go to the ticket taker, you show them the ticket barcode, they scan it, and you’re good, just like any other e-ticket system.

Sure, my ticket taker should’ve asked for my photo ID to confirm, but this was a busy night, so that was that. The exact experience you’d want.

I know, this has been pretty damn glowing for A-List so far, so let’s get down to brass tacks:

Pros

Cons

All and all, I’m pretty stoked on AMC Stubs A-List - but if you’re not near an AMC, your mileage versus MoviePass may vary.

We can now safely say this - with AMC going all in on A-List, Alamo Drafthouse exploring a subscription product, and Cinemark having a much worse version of it, MoviePass has changed the way we see movies.

Their gloomy future notwithstanding, MoviePass disrupted theatrical exhibition the way Napster changed the way we got music - and one hopes that the future accessibility of film will match the accessibility of music.

At the very least - it’s a great time to go to the movies.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Major League Baseball Brings Us THE COTTON CANDY HOT DOG

Deadspin:

That abomination…is the cotton candy hot dog, a depraved and frankly unsightly creation that could only have been the work of a focus-group of tweenaged maniacs who’d just snorted a raft Pixie Sticks. It’s quite the elevator pitch: “a hot dog, but the bun’s been replaced by a cotton candy exterior, and the ketchup and mustard are now Nerdsâ„¢.“

Mother of God. Should be marked NSFW.

The Creator of TOO MANY COOKS has a New Video — FINAL DEPLOYMENT 4: QUEEN BATTLE WALKTHROUGH

The less I say about this, the better.

Just know that like with Too Many Cooks, you should stick with this for the long haul.

AOL Instant Messenger Just Wont Die

Motherboard:

Tremendous. I love when these sort of things happen online.

Sadly, couldn’t happen for my dear, departed Google Reeder (it’s okay, as I have FeedBin now), but I love when the community comes together.

New Trailer and Poster for THE PREDATOR

www.youtube.com/watch

I’m still in because it’s a Shane Black written-and-directed Predator movie, but I’d be lying if i said these trailers have been setting the world on fire.

This new poster rules though!

Mattel Brings the Laughing Prince Adam Meme to Life for SDCC 2018

Preternia:

Filmation Laughing Prince Adam will be Super7’s MOTUC exclusive for San Diego Comic Convention 2018. The figure will not be sold at the actual convention floor, but at Super7’s Hordak’s Lair’ pop up shop located at 701 8th Avenue July 18 and 19th. No word yet on price or if he will be sold online after the show (I can’t imagine they them not selling stock after the show, for what it’s worth).

 

Surreal and amazing. Well done, Super7.

Nintendo Brings LABO Steering to MARIO KART

Nintendo:

What a fun and clever idea!

Nintendo’s also planning a Labo-based creation contest, so they’re clearly in it for the long haul with their cardboard creation system.

Indie Game DONUT COUNTY Gets Concept Stolen by Shady iOS Developer

Kotaku:

HBO is Banned in China, and It’s JOHN OLIVER’s Fault

The New York Times:

Solid work, John. I expect an unforgettable segment on this on Sunday.

ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE Joins the MOVIEPASS War

/Film:

Proof positive that if (when?) MoviePass dies, it has changed moviegoing forever.

(Real talk? I’m probably signing up for AMC Stubs A-List tomorrow.)

#FastFoodArmsRace: Oscar Meyer Upgrades From a Weinermobile to a GODDAMNED JETPACK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lpv-t-XKyE4&amp;feature=youtu.be

Now this is the future we were promised.

Apple's Doubling Down on High-End Audio

Bloomberg:

BREAKING: STAR WARS STORY Spinoffs Are...On Hold.

Collider:

Certainly adds fuel to the anti-Disney Star Wars fire which formed after The Force Awakens and burned ever so brightly after The Last Jedi.

Honestly, I think that the difficulties heading to the screen of Rogue One and Solo — even if the final products were quite good — have lead to a need to step back for Lucasfilm and a re-evauluation of a “Star Wars Universe”.

Instagram Launches YouTube Competitor - IGTV

MobileSyrup:

The Facebook-owned social platform revealed the new product today at an afternoon press event, along with the announcement that it had hit one billion users.

The new feature, which positions Instagram in closer competition with Google’s YouTube than ever before, provides only vertical full-screen video, which begins playing as soon as the app opens.

The mobile video aspect also puts further pressure on Snapchat, which has a similar destination for video content called Snapchat Discover. Begun, these content wars have!

I think putting IGTV into a separate app is a very bad idea.

The White House is Looking Into GDPR-Like Privacy Regulations for the Web

Axios:

Steve Carrell Deals Through His Art in WELCOME TO MARWEN

www.youtube.com/watch

If you’ve seen the documentary Marwencol, this is the same story.

Definitely a movie which should be talked about in Oscar season.

ROBERT ZEMECKIS To Direct Remake of THE WITCHES

Variety:

Sources say a deal is expected shortly. Zemeckis will also pen the script, with his partner Jack Rapke producing through their banner ImageMovers, along with Alfonso Cuaron and Guillermo del Toro. Del Toro had long been attached to direct, but a scheduling conflict led the Oscar winner to vacate the director’s chair.

Based on the 1973 novel, the film follows a seven-year-old boy who has a run in with real-life witches. Warner Bros. had previously adapted the book in 1990 with Anjelica Huston playing one of the title characters, but sources close to the project say Zemeckis’ version will be more rooted in the original source material, while the Huston pic was a loose adaptation. Any major fans of The Witches in the reading audience? Excited or concerned about a remake?

LEGO Announces SDCC 2018 Exclusive Millennium Falcon Cockpit Set

twitter.com/LEGO_Grou…

How fun! I’d love to see this get a re-release for us general folks, maybe in a different box?

Some Thoughts on INCREDIBLES 2 (2018)

Last night I had the absolute pleasure of heading to the theater and seeing Incredibles 2, big and loud in a Dolby Cinema.

Here are my thoughts on Pixar’s latest flick.

CREED II Trailer Hits the Web

youtu.be/cPNVNqn4T…

The original Creed is a modern day miracle, a true lighting-in-a-bottle scenario.

This looks good…but lightning doesn’t strike twice. We’ll see how it is this Thanksgiving.

AMC Theatres Unveils Their MoviePass Killer: AMC STUBS A-LIST

AMC Theaters PR:

I may make the jump. What say you, MoviePass Fans?

THE MAXX Returns in BATMAN/THE MAXX: ARKHAM DREAMS

Paste:

Kieth took a hiatus from comics in the latter half of that decade, before returning with a number of Wildstorm series, contributions to Marvel’s Wolverine and Arkham Asylum: Madness, an original graphic novel written and drawn by Kieth that hit the New York Times bestseller list. Now, Paste can exclusively share that Kieth is returning to two of his most popular ventures with Batman/The Maxx: Arkham Dreams, a five-issue mini-series kicking off in September from IDW Publishing and DC Comics, with alternate covers from Jim Lee. I never thought we’d see new The Maxx comics from Sam Keith. This is incredibly exciting for the ‘90’s indie comic fans, or those who remember the stunning MTV series.

Jennifer Lee & Pete Docter Take The Reigns at Disney and Pixar

ComingSoon.net:

Lee has been a rising star at Disney, and is a key, prominent woman in power at a time where Disney could use a strong woman in management. She worked on Wreck-It Ralph, Frozen, Zootopia, Ralph Breaks the Internet, and is currently directing Frozen 2.

Docter has been a part of Pixar from day one, and is responsible for three of the best animated films of the past 20 years in Monsters Inc., Up, and Inside Out.

I am confident that these two leads will continue the strong run of films coming from each studio, and I’m excited to see how they innovate moving forward.

Alex Kurtzman Signs Deal with CBS, BUT FUCK ALL THAT SHIT PICARD'S COMING BACK

Hollywood Reporter:

The exec producer behind CBS All Access' Star Trek: Discovery has renewed his overall deal with CBS Television Studios, signing a massive five-year extension with the studio behind the drama. The new agreement keeps Kurtzman, whose deal was up this year, with the studio through 2023. Sources say the deal is estimated at $5 million per year as Kurtzman receives a sizable back end on his programming.

Under the new pact, Kurtzman will serve as the show’s lone showrunner after taking over Star Trek: Discovery from Aaron Harberts and Gretchen Berg, who were recently fired from the series. Kurtzman will also expand the Star Trek franchise for the small screen, developing new series, miniseries and other content, including animation. Blah, blah, blah. TV producer development talk.

INVINCIBLE Heads to Amazon As An Animated Series

Hollywood Reporter:

Interesting to see an hour long animated series coming from Amazon.

Anchor Brings User-Friendly Podcast Editing to the iPad

MacStories:

Anchor for iPad resembles its iPhone counterpart in most ways: the basic recording workflows and tools are all available here, so existing Anchor users won’t have any trouble navigating the app. One major change is that the iPad version loses access to the full database of Anchor podcasts for listening. While I’d prefer the iPad app retain full functionality from the iPhone, the message behind this move is clear: the iPad app is all about content creation, not consumption. Pretty slick!

I’d heard that Ferrite is the Podcast-editing app for pros, but this seems like an easy, low-effort way to bring editing to the masses.

And like so, the need for a full computer gets smaller and smaller.

#FastFoodArmsRace: McDonald's Canada Releases World Taste Tour Menu

Chew Boom:

The new burger is being introduced as part of the brand’s “World Taste Tour" menu which includes five new limited-time items rolling out in a staggered release starting today. The full list of new items and the regions they represent…

Gamestop In Talks With Private Equity Firms for Buyout

Reuters:

And oh yeah, GameStop owns ThinkGeek right now too, after blocking Hot Topic from buying them.

I’m no GameStop stan or anything, just a shame to see another brick and mortar retailer get strangled like this.

Will Ferrell Heads to Netflix with EUROVISION

Deadline:

Interesting times to be a comedy star - Ferrell joins an ever-growing list leaving the major studios and going straight to streaming.

Dark Horse Reveals Line of STRANGER THINGS Comics

EW.com:

That’s a great way to bounce back from losing the Star Wars license.

Sure would like to see some bigger names tied to the series, if I’m honest.

Another New Image from WONDER WOMAN 1984

twitter.com/GalGadot/…

In case you were worried that Wonder Woman wasn’t going to have a traditional look in Wonder Woman 84, Gal Gadot certainly put fears to rest this morning on her Twitter account.

PS4 Spider-Man Comes To Marvel Comics During SPIDERGEDDON

Polygon:

The event will be a successor of sorts to 2014’s Spider-Verse storyline, which introduced now-fan-favorite characters like Spider-Gwen and Silk to the Marvel Universe.

“Spidergeddon is nigh!“ cries the teaser image, featuring more than a dozen permutations of Spider-Man from different parallel versions of Marvel’s main setting, Earth-616.

But one silhouette remained mysteriously blank.

Today Polygon can exclusively reveal the identity of that Spider-Person: None other than the Spider-Man of Spider-Man, the upcoming action-adventure title from Insomniac Games, with his distinctive white spider-emblem. Very cool! By chance, can we also work in 90’s Cartoon Spider-Man, 2000’s cartoon “Spectacular” Spider-Man, and what the hell, Tobey Maguire?

#FastFoodArmsRace: DIPPIN DOTS, In Breakfast Cereal Form!

Chew Boom:

Available exclusively at Walmart, the new corn and oat-based cereal is initially being introduced in just two flavors, Banana Split and Cookies n Cream.

For those times when you want Ice Cream for breakfast, but in bead form.

I think I'll need to read PETER PARKER: THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #1 Next Week

CBR:

As Peter will soon learn, things might have been easier when Jameson was deeming him a menace, rather than calling on him for help.

Not only does this issue feature an action-packed story by Chip Zdarsky and Mike Allred, but it also includes a backup story by Mike Drucker and Chris Bachalo. Zdarsky and Mike Allred? That’s a Marty Day Must Readâ„¢!

BETWEEN TWO FERNS is Back with Guests Jerry Seinfeld & Cardi B

www.youtube.com/watch

Two years is too long between Between Two Ferns episodes, Zach.

But it’s like you haven’t missed a day.

The Onion: 'Creepy Weirdo Still Stalking You On Facebook'

The Onion:

Entertainment Weekly Gives AQUAMAN The Cover, and Reveals Black Manta!

EW.com:

And here’s the first look at Black Manta:

Still looking good to me.

Momoa’s Aquaman has been a highlight of the DCEU so far, and hopefully, the movie is as great as Wonder Woman ended up being, despite the movies which came before it.

Can We Talk About How Great SABLE Looks?

youtu.be/KJFQhEY9u…

Sadly, as a PS4 / Mac owner, this is coming to PC/Xbox One - but this game seriously looks like a Mobeius comic in motion.

Wow.

A Brand New Trailer for THE GRINCH

youtu.be/L8LWUyUy7…

I’ll be honest, this interpretation of The Grinch, while completely unnecessary, is growing on me.

The Official DICK TRACY Watch Hits IndieGoGo

Indiegogo:

At $324 (Early Bird, with RETAIL of $500) this is a really cool piece, but SUPER pricey.

That said, as someone who loved the Dick Tracy live-action movie as a kid, this is really cool to see come to life.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Nickelodeon and Walmart Team For Green Slime Ketchup

Thrillist:

 

Certainly looks more appetizing than that Purple Ketchup from the 90’s, but not by much.

EWAN MCGREGOR To Star as Lead in THE SHINING Sequel, DOCTOR SLEEP

Variety:

Any good?

AMAZON and JUST FOR LAUGHS Team On Standup Comedy Documentary Series

Deadline:

Set to stream on Amazon Prime Video, the six-episode untitled series will head to comedy clubs and into the aspiring comics’ lives, showing the highs, lows, frustrations and successes they face as they juggle day jobs, relationships and hecklers in the quest for their biggest break. The comics go through the annual process to get into the coveted New Faces showcase — whose alumni include Kevin Hart, Amy Schumer, Kumail Nanjiani and Jimmy Fallon — beginning with the auditions and callbacks, through selection and into the preparation of their comedy sets. Cameras follow as they write and hone the jokes that they hope will impress the talent scouts, producers and managers who attend Just for Laughs in Montreal each July to sign the next generation of comedy stars. Why, hello, I’m the audience for this.

The CALL ME BY YOUR NAME Soundtrack Hits Vinyl...With a Twist

Music On Vinyl:

Clever idea, guys. Very clever.

NETFLIX & TELLTALE GAMES Teaming Up For MINECRAFT Experiences & STRANGER THINGS Game!

Polygon:

Additionally, Telltale is developing an [interactive game] adaptation based on Stranger Things, a Netflix representative told Polygon.

A Telltale representative confirmed to Polygon that it’s developing games for Netflix and that Stranger Things would be a separate project on consoles and PC. Not the original story (that goes to TechRadar), but the clearest.

The idea of interactive video based games on Netflix is certainly unique one (and fixes some of the jank of the Telltale engine), but the combination of Stranger Things and the throwback nature of Telltale’s games feels like a natural match. Looking forward to seeing what they do!

Mondo Celebrates E3 with MEGA MAN, JOURNEY and FALLOUT 4 Posters!

Mondo:

Goddamn you guys. That Mega Man poster is insanely great.

DC Comics To Put HEROES IN CRISIS

Polygon:

“I feel a duty to talk about what violence does to a society through the comics I’m creating,“ King said in a press release, and it’s certainly a common theme in his work. Omega Men and Sheriff of Babylon dug into very different war-torn settings, while his Mister Miracle and Batman series both examine their main characters through the lens of trauma.

But for King, who is a former counterterrorism officer for the CIA, there’s more to the idea of normalizing superheroes who struggle — and want to help those that struggle — with mental health. Interesting subject to explore for the DCU. I recommend that Tom King proceeds with the lightest of touches though. This could break bad.

Bandai Announces SDCC 2018 Exclusive VOLTRON Figure Kit

Bandai / Bluefin Brands:

It’s time to form Blazing Sword! This special SDCC 2018 exclusive version of Bandai Shokugan Super Minipla Voltron includes an additional effect part to recreate the “Form Blazing Sword" sequence not found in the regular release version and exclusive box-art! A hybrid plastic model kit and toy, the Super Minipla Voltron comes in pre-colored plastic with painted-in details and assembles with no glue! Completed product can be separated into 5 individual posable Lions and combine into Voltron. Includes Blazing Sword, Spinning Laser Blade, and an original weapon, the Mega Blaster made from the individual Lion weapons. Assembled, Voltron stands at approx. 7.1"³ tall.“

Looks great!

Two More STAR WARS SDCC 2018 Exclusive Reveals

EW.com:

The neck of Kylo sure looks odd to me.

A Look into the New SHORTCUTS App for iOS 12

MacStories:

While it’s still too early to comment on the long-term impact of Shortcuts, I can at least attempt to understand the potential of this new technology. In this article, I’ll try to explain the differences between Siri shortcuts and the Shortcuts app, as well as answering some common questions about how much Shortcuts borrows from the original Workflow app. Really cool, in-depth look at the new Shortcuts app for iOS 12, and how it works similarly to the Workflow app that so many power-users love, but makes it accessible to all.

The Closest We Have to Details on George Lucas' STAR WARS Sequel Trilogy

twitter.com/LivioRamo…

Bullet dodged, you guys. Bullet dodged.

Another Look at WONDER WOMAN 1984

twitter.com/GalGadot/…

I guess this is a look at Diana in the new, 80’s set Wonder Woman sequel.

This is so weird.

Uh, Steve Trevor is Back for WONDER WOMAN 2?

twitter.com/PattyJenk…

Two things here:

The Teaser for Tim Burton's DUMBO Is Here...And It Looks Good?

youtu.be/-QPdRfqTn…

Tim Burton is in full Big Fish mode and I’m not sure if my emotions can take it.

SOULCALIBUR VI Set for October 2018 Release

www.youtube.com/watch

October 19, 2018, to be exact.

Are you ready to return to the stage of history?

FIRE EMBLEM Returns on the Switch

www.youtube.com/watch

Fire Emblem Three Houses is the next installment, hitting in Spring 2019.

I wonder if this will be enough to sell me on a strategy game.

The Party is Back in SUPER MARIO PARTY for Switch

www.youtube.com/watch

The one of the other big Nintendo reveals was Super Mario Party.

I always enjoy a good Mario Party game, and the use of the JoyCon here looks inventive.

That said, the most interesting innovation here? The use of multiple Switches to alter gameplay. Very cool!

Nintendo Unveils SUPER SMASH BROS ULTIMATE for Switch

www.youtube.com/watch

Yep, about half of the Nintendo press conference was covering Smash Bros., and it was glorious.

Short version of that 25 minute video:

MTV To Reboot AEON FLUX as a Live-Action Series

Hollywood Reporter:

The Viacom-owned cabler is developing a live-action reboot of the animated series that originally ran on the younger-skewing network for three seasons in 1990s.

Teen Wolf showrunner Jeff Davis is on board to pen the script and exec produce the drama alongside The Walking Dead’s Gale Anne Hurd. Hurd, who was not attached to the original series, produced the 2005 feature film starring Charlize Theron. So long as it’s better than the live-action film, we’re in a better place than we were before.

But…I don’t think the show will be anywhere near as surreal or subversive as the original shorts and animated series.

The SINISTER SIX Invades SPIDER-MAN on the PS4 In This New Gameplay Demo

youtu.be/X3ricWI0K…

I am far too excited for this game.

September 7th can’t come soon enough!

DEATH STRANDING Proves It's A Playable Game, Still Weird As Hell

youtu.be/rP3UngLFo…

Trigger Warning: Toenail Removal.

I still have no idea what Hideo Kojima has in store for us with Death Stranding, I just know I want to play the damn thing.

SURPRISE! RESIDENT EVIL 2 Is Getting a Remake!

youtu.be/RuWiKXdkd…

I loved the original Resident Evil 2 in the PlayStation 1 era.

Might need to get this to fuel the nostalgia. Looks stunning.

The Gorgeous GHOSTS OF TSUSHIMA Brings the Feudal Era to Life on PS4

youtu.be/kSAvzeopP…

I thought the original reveal of this game was captivating. This is just on another level.

THE LAST OF US PART II Revealed at E3 2018

youtu.be/btmN-bWwv…

Kicking off last night’s Sony Press Conference, we got an extended look at the survival needed within The Last of Us Part II.

I recognize she’s the actress behind her, but it’s crazy how much Older Ellie looks like Ashley Johnson.

Add ARACHNOPHOBIA To The Remake Pile

Deadline:

Fingers crossed.

ASSASSIN'S CREED ODYSSEY Looks...Uh, Really Good?

www.youtube.com/watch

Leaks be damned! While the existence of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey didn’t get to be a surprise, the fact that it looks really damn good sure was.

Interesting, Ubisoft. Maybe I’ll pick up the GOTY edition or a post-Christmas discount. We’ll see.

Ubisoft Again Spotlights Toys-to-Life Game STARLINK: BATTLE OF ATLAS

www.youtube.com/watch

We’re ever closer to Ubisoft’s spaceship adventure game finally hitting shelves. So of course, we got a cool new trailer for it.

We even got to see how the toy spaceships will interact with the game.

www.youtube.com/watch

But then - proving Mario & Rabbids wasn’t a fluke…

MOTHERFUCKING STARFOX SHOWED UP

www.youtube.com/watch

Yep, those Amiibo heads have a new toy to pick up this October.

BEYOND GOOD & EVIL 2: Still Not Dead, Still No Indication of a Release, Still Looks Surreal

www.youtube.com/watch

Another year, another tease of Beyond Good and Evil 2 from Ubisoft.

What may indicate that this one is coming soon?

They’re asking fans to submit artwork for the game through Joseph Gordon Levitt’s HitRECord site.

(Which, depending on what you think of contests like this, is either rad or super scummy.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub0x1_bSU_0

GAWKER vs. HULK HOGAN Trial To Get a Real Movie From The Director of THE HUNGER GAMES

ComingSoon.net:

Based on the book Conspiracy: Peter Thiel, Hulk Hogan, Gawker, and the Anatomy of Intrigue by Ryan Holiday, the film will depict the trial of Bollea v. Gawker, in which Hulk Hogan (real name Terry Gene Bollea) sued the media organization, its employees and affiliates for publishing portions of a sex tape between Hogan and Heather Clem, who was the wife of radio personality Bubba the Love Sponge at the time it was filmed. Hogan came out victorious following a two-week trial in which the jury awarded him $115 million in compensatory damages, only for the fight to continue past the trial with Hogan suing Gawker once again for leaking court documents and after six months of struggling, the two came to a $31 million settlement and the closure of the infamous website.

The film adaptation of the trial will be scripted by Charles Randolph, the Oscar-winning screenwriter behind The Big Short, and produced by David A. Neuman and Lawrence, who is well-known for directing three of the four Hunger Games films, as well as recently helming the spy thriller Red Sparrow, which saw him re-team with actress Jennifer Lawrence. I wonder who they’re going to get to play the Hulkster?

This reminds me, I need to watch the Netflix documentary about this trial, Nobody Speak.

Jim Got Swole And Is Tired of Being Quiet: Trailer for Amazon's JACK RYAN Series

youtu.be/1KsyZF590…

Between this and A Quiet Place, John Krasinski sure has come a long way from being the dude-who-made-a-face-at-the-camera-on-The-Office.

STARBURNS INDUSTRIES Animates New ARCADE FIRE Video For 'Chemistry'

youtu.be/ru4T3m48o…

This is definitely one of the weirder music videos I’ve ever seen. Enjoy!

LOONEY TUNES To Return in 2019!

TheWrap:

According to Warner Bros’ official description, “Looney Tunes Cartoons" echoes the high production value and process of the original Looney Tunes theatrical shorts with a cartoonist-driven approach to storytelling. Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig and other marquee Looney Tunes characters will be featured in their classic pairings in simple, gag-driven and visually vibrant stories. Each cartoon will vary from one to six minutes in length and, from the premise on through to the jokes, will be “written" and drawn by the cartoonists allowing their own personality and style to come through in each cartoon. Interesting. I wonder what, if any “names” will be getting showcased in these new shorts, or if it will be like the old What-A-Cartoon! series from Turner, where new cartoonists get to show their stuff.

Here's Your E3 2018 KINGDOM HEARTS III Trailer

youtu.be/GWlKEM3m2…

The Square-Enix presentation at E3 was kind of a giant nothing burger for me.

But I know people are HYPED about Kingdom Hearts III.

Me? I’m now sold because REMY THE RAT IS IN THERE! YEAH!

Geoff Johns, Now With Less Work, To Pick Up Writing SHAZAM, THREE JOKERS, and His Own DC COMICS IMPRINT

Newsarama:

The Killing Zone will be a slate of comic books “focusing on new and lesser known DC characters and titles”, although no specifics are given.

For Three Jokers, Johns will be reuniting with his Justice League partner Jason Fabok to pick up the story he began in his 2015 Justice League “Darkseid War” story arc.

Johns' Shazam! series is scheduled to be out in the fall according to DC, although no artist is named. Johns' previous wrote a Shazam! back-up serial drawn by Gary Frank, which appeared in the “New 52” Justice League series. Going back to what he - arguably - does best.

GAL GADOT and DWAYNE JOHNSON To Team in RED NOTICE

Deadline:

Here’s the best we’ve got:

Geoff Johns to Write and Produce GREEN LANTERN CORPS Movie

Further down in that Hollywood Reporter Article I just posted:

Plus, we nerds finally get to see if it pays to have the writers translate the property.

Fingers crossed.

DC Entertainment Shakeup: Geoff Johns Exits for Writing and Producing Deal

Hollywood Reporter:

Johns is launching Mad Ghost Productions, a new banner that will see him work on content for films, television and comic books, and have his hand in current DC properties as well as new and reimagined creations.

At the same time, current DC Entertainment publisher Jim Lee will assume the chief creative officer position, taking on the duties while continuing to act as publisher with Dan DiDio. The two have jointly held the post since 2010. Of note, this comes right after Diane Nelson left the president post last week, after a 3 month leave.

I wonder what’s going on over there.

I feel like the entire DCEU saga behind-the-scenes would be a hell of a book one day.

Get Back In The Ring With the GLOW Season 2 Trailer!

youtu.be/9iM7W1Dvl…

I loved the first season, so of course, I’m in for this. Just 18 days away!

THE LITTLE STRANGER: A Ghost Story From the Director of ROOM

youtu.be/ASR04zW4K…

Interesting choice of follow up - but really, a killer cast, and looks like a good fright fest.

The Butt Rock is STRONG in the New E3 2018 TEAM SONIC RACING Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

Looking forward to seeing how well this game does in continuing the shockingly decent Sonic racing game lineage.

EA's Jade Raymond Lays Out Some VERY Cool Ideas For the Future of Gaming

Polygon:

Imagine a game where players give each other quests; a game where data is used to kill off the most beloved characters to maximize narrative surprise; a game where the best and most involved players experience new content first, incorporating their characters into the game’s lore. Raymond digs into these ideas and many others, providing a rare look at how a massive game developer hopes to shape the future of the medium. Definitely worth a read. I like these ideas. Like with many ideas, I don’t want all games to use them, but I’d love to see these tools added to the creative toolbox.

If Nothing Else, KINGDOM HEARTS III Has Given Us New TRON Action Figures

GameSpot:

A Look at Gallery 1988's VERSUS Art Show, Featuring the Work of Tom Whalen and Dave Perillo

/Film:

#FastFoodArmsRace: And It Turns Out IHOB Stands For...

twitter.com/IHOb/stat…

I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this.

ThinkGeek Gets an Exclusive FALLOUT 76 Pip-Boy Construction Kit

ThinkGeek:

It’s $150, but, if the photos are any indication, this is worth every penny.

Here’s just one image. Click through to see the whole shebang, and pre-order your own.

Bethesda Announces THE ELDER SCROLLS VI

www.youtube.com/watch

Sometimes, all you need to get fans excited is to wrap up your press conference with an announcement.

No details, no info. Just a name.

The Elder Scrolls VI is certainly a title which gets fans salivating. Myself included.

It can’t come soon enough.

Bethesda Announces STARFIELD

www.youtube.com/watch

A space adventure from the creators of Fallout and Elder Scrolls?

I was in from the idea. Bring it on, guys.

In fact, you’re in my backyard…I’ll bring myself to you…

Yet ANOTHER Trailer for FALLOUT 76

www.youtube.com/watch

As we learned last night, Fallout 76 is indeed an entirely online Fallout adventure. Actively multiplayer, you can even NUKE YOUR FELLOW PLAYER’S SHELTERS.

This is going to be a hell of a thing.

Bethesda Announces that SKYRIM is Coming EVERYWHERE

www.youtube.com/watch

You can’t say that Bethesda can’t poke fun at itself.

Battle Nazis TOGETHER in WOLFENSTEIN: YOUNGBLOOD

www.youtube.com/watch

Sadly, no Rob Liefeld involvement, but this does take the Wolfenstein franchise into the 80’s and delivers co-op action. Sounds fun, right?

Hell Comes to Earth in DOOM ETERNAL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oVwrpfo_QA

The full reveal hits Quakecon (STILL AT THING!) in August, but if this is half as good as the 2016 reboot was, we’re in for a treat.

A Look at RAGE 2 Gameplay

www.youtube.com/watch

I’m not entirely sure this game is for me, but it certainly has an arresting visual style.

Anime Gets Grim and Gritty on Xbox in JUMP FORCE

www.youtube.com/watch

That’s certainly one way to capture the interest of the Japanese market, Microsoft.

Not One. Not Two. But THREE New GEARS OF WARS Games Announced

For the mobile players, we’ve got Gears POP!, based on (yep) the popular vinyl toys.

www.youtube.com/watch

For those who like strategy games? Gears Tactics is on the way for the PC.

But for the traditionalists? Don’t worry, Gears of War 5 is here.

www.youtube.com/watch

The real question?

How does one pluralize Gears of War?

Gearses of War? Gears of Wars? Or is it already plural?

The Team Behind THE WITCHER Finally Unveil CYBERPUNK 2077

youtu.be/8X2kIfS6f…

I need to see a lot more from this game immediately.

The Return of BATTLETOADS Announced for 2019

youtu.be/aZGVVamv7…

But what will people troll Gamestop with now?

And this game BETTER BE controller-breakingly difficult.

Dante and Nero Return in DEVIL MAY CRY 5

youtu.be/vc2656TCb…

Hits PS4, Xbox and PC in Spring 2019, with some special enhancements for the Xbox One X.

More of FALLOUT 76 Revealed In New E3 2018 Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

Four times the size of Fallout 4, and it’s a prequel, too!

Expect even more tonight after Bethesda’s press conference.

Get a Glimpse of the FROZEN World in the New KINGDOM HEARTS III Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

I still think we’ll see Frozen 2 before Kingdom Hearts III, even with yesterday’s release date announcement.

LIFE IS STRANGE Gets a Completely Free Spinoff - THE AWESOME ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN SPIRIT

youtu.be/EolUfLJpU…

Consider this a teaser game of sorts for Life is Strange 2. Hits Xbox, PS4 and PC this June.

Terry Crews Blows Everything Up in the New CRACKDOWN 3 Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

Sadly, we won’t get to see this one until 2019.

FromSoftware Has A New Ninja Adventure - SEKIRO: SHADOWS DIE TWICE

youtu.be/UGPknmiLx…

Given that this is the Dark Souls/Bloodbourne team, I can only assume this game will be super difficult.

Master Chief Returns in HALO INFINITE Teaser

youtu.be/Fmdb-Kmlz…

Of note, this one’ll hit PC and Xbox.

A Massive, Custom 6-Foot Tall LEGO Batman Wayne Manor and Batcave

The Brothers Brick:

Truly unreal - and this is the same guy who designed the LEGO Ideas Ghostbusters Ecto-1, so you know he knows his stuff.

Just one teaser image - the full article has many more and a video taking you through the build.

BEAT SABER Coming to PlayStation VR

www.youtube.com/watch

We recently got this for our Oculus rig at work.

Incredibly fun and enthralling game. Reminds me a lot of the joy of the first time I played Guitar Hero.

This could be what makes me finally get a PlayStation VR system.

KINGDOM HEARTS III Finally Gets A Release Date

twitter.com/KINGDOMHE…

I’ll hold my breath on this one.

ANTHEM Revealed During EA's E3 Press Conference

www.youtube.com/watch

We had a reveal of sorts for this new title last year, but the Destiny-by-way-of-Titanfall feelings are definitely underlined in the new trailer above, which makes great use of a Muse song.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Boston Pizza Presents A Pizza Box For Eating Pizza In Bed

www.youtube.com/watch

The two flaws:

I still definitely want this in my life.

Here’s a cool diagram which explains how it works:

Head to the Moon with the FIRST MAN Trailer

youtu.be/O9Y7DTCn7…

The director of Whiplash reteams with the star who brought him Oscar gold in La La Land for a story of unparalleled obsession, hard work, and determination.

This looks phenomenal.

HBO Orders Pilot for GAME OF THRONES Prequel Series

Hollywood Reporter:

HBO is officially moving forward with a pilot order for an still-untitled Game of Thrones prequel, created by Jane Goldman (Kick-Ass, Kingsman: The Secret Service) and George R.R. Martin — the author of the A Song of Ice and Fire novel series on which Thrones is based.

Set thousands of years before the events of Thrones, the project chronicles the world’s descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour. A logline from the network teased the plot wihtout divulging any specifics: “Only one thing is for sure: from the horrifying secrets of Westeros' history to the true origin of the White Walkers, the mysteries of the East to the Starks of legend… it’s not the story we think we know."

Smart idea by HBO, and it’s cool to see Jane Goldman in a prominent position for the series.

Any particular era you want to see come to life, Thrones-heads?

Get Ready for STRANGER THINGS Books!

Deadline:

Those two books will be followed next spring by a Stranger Things prequel novel, written by author Gwenda Bond, about Eleven’s mother and the MKUltra program. Additional titles for both adults and young readers will arrive later in 2019.

Really, the big news there is the prequel novel regarding Eleven’s mother.

Could be a good read, and it will be interesting to see how - if at all - it ties into the currently filming Season 3.

Neil Armstrong Bio Pic FIRST MAN Gets a Poster

Trailer hits tonight!

The Team Behind LIFE IS STRANGE Has A New Game...This is TWIN MIRROR

youtu.be/KovDDJHpX…

Hits consoles and PC next year.

The Shape Is Back: HALLOWEEN Reboot Trailer Arrives

www.youtube.com/watch

The original Halloween is one of my all-time favorites.

This looks great. From David Gordon Green and Danny McBride, no less.

DEAD OR ALIVE is Back, in the Appropriately Titled...DEAD OR ALIVE 6

www.youtube.com/watch

Here comes some awkward ass headlines about 4K Jiggle Physics.

Matthew Vaughn Sees a Lot More KICK-ASS and KINGSMAN In His Future

Empire:

The highlights:

If that wasn’t enough, he’s gonna produce that Taron Eggerton-starring Elton John movie, too!

#FastFoodArmsRace: Sonic Unleashes Pickle Juice Slush on an Unsuspecting Public

Chew Boom:

OH FUCK OFF WITH THAT, SONIC

Eddie Murphy To Star in DOLEMITE Bio-Pic for Netflix!

Deadline:

Finally, Eddie back in action.

Steam Leaks JUST CAUSE 4

Polygon:

That’s a whoopsie, for sure.

Tough time to be keeping secrets as an online retailer.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Hardee's Launches New Hot Chicken Sandwich

Brand Eating:

Available for a limited time throughout the summer, the sandwich features a crispy-fried chicken breast filet covered in barrel-aged hot sauce and served, along with pickles and mayo, on toasted sourdough.

I may need to make a special stop on the way to the beach this Summer.

Anthony Bourdain, Dead at 61

CNN:

CNN confirmed Bourdain’s death on Friday and said the cause of death was suicide. “It is with extraordinary sadness we can confirm the death of our friend and colleague, Anthony Bourdain,” the network said in a statement Friday morning. “His love of great adventure, new friends, fine food and drink and the remarkable stories of the world made him a unique storyteller. His talents never ceased to amaze us and we will miss him very much. Our thoughts and prayers are with his daughter and family at this incredibly difficult time.”

Fuck.

This one hurts.

Some quick thoughts on THE GET UP KIDS’ new KICKER’ EP.

 

Guys, I love the Get Up Kids.

Seen them in concert countless times - including what was their farewell show in Kansas City. Enjoyed them throughout every era, even the less beloved On A Wire and Guilt Show phases, and I really dug their comeback record There Are Rules.

They’ve got a new EP out today, Kicker, and it’s a lean-and-mean 4 song boost of energy. Lasted the exact length of my car ride to work today, and I love it, full stop! Really reminds me of the Four Minute Mile days, even if the lyrics are more about looking back then facing forward.

We’ve got two Matt Pryor songs, two Jim Suptic songs, and everything just is great. Would love to hear it live.

Of the 4 songs, I prefer the Pryor tracks - opener “Maybe" and closer “My Own Reflection" - but I could see all four shining live.

Check it out via Apple Music below.

#FastFoodArmsRace: McDonald's Brazil Launches World Cup Menu

VIX:

This time though, the campaign will honor not only seven nations (as in other years) but EIGHT countries who have been the champions of all time.

A bunch of new burgers, paired with special french fry variants.

My personal favorite: the McEngland.

THE SMASHING PUMPKINS (Minus D'arcy) Are Back With 'SOLARA'

www.youtube.com/watch

Mostly the original lineup, back for the first time in 18 years. What say you, nerds?

So, What DID NASA Find on Mars?

Gizmodo:

The scientists behind experiments conducted by the Curiosity rover are today reporting two results that make the Red Planet’s story even more interesting. One group found carbon-containing organic matter in 3.5-billion-year-old rock. Another noticed the methane levels around Curiosity varied by the season. Combined, these results present tantalizing hints of a potentially habitable Martian past.

This is so cool.

IKEA and LEGO To Team Up On...Something?

LEGO.com:

Play is key to develop. And it is an essential part of a better everyday life. Play is so many different things, for so many different people. In the everyday life there are different barriers for play. Some of the barriers are more evident for grown-ups. One being that grown-ups think that playing can be messy. Other barriers are more evident to children — like grown-ups trying to create order in the play environment, where children in fact enjoy and often immerse themselves in the midst of it all.

“It started with an invitation from the LEGO Group “Do you want to play?“. Of course we said yes to this and together we now want to enable more play by triggering play in the functionality of the everyday life. At IKEA we first and foremost want to resolve this built in or maybe just perceived conflict that play is messy in a creative, humanistic and playful way. Because we believe more play makes the home and the world a better place", says Fredrika Inger, Business Area Manager for Children’s IKEA, at IKEA of Sweden.

Click through to read the full press release.

This is really mystifying. I have no clue what they’re really working on. But it will be something which we’ll see in “the next couple of years".

Weird.

Official Trailer Arrives for HBO's ROBIN WILLIAMS Doc

www.youtube.com/watch

Having recently finished reading Robin, I can tell you that this is going to be an emotional roller-coaster of a watch.

I’ll have the tissues ready for its premiere next month.

Lizzy Caplan Joins Apple TV Series ARE YOU SLEEPING

Deadline:

Are You Sleeping, created and written by Nichelle Tramble Spellman based on the true-crime novel by Kathleen Barber, provides a unique glimpse into America’s obsession with true-crime podcasts and challenges its viewers to consider the consequences when the pursuit of justice is placed on a public stage.

JJ Abrams Enters the Games World with New Studio, BAD ROBOT GAMES

ComingSoon.net:

The production company announced today that it is partnering with Chinese media conglomerate Tencent to form the new division, which will be controlled and operated by Abrams to develop original games, with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment signing on as a minority investor.

If Bad Robot Games can bring things as remotely interesting as the track record of Annapurna Games (another film producer gone game producer), the Bad Robot brand will be one to keep an eye on.

Jim Carrey Reteams with Michel Gondry for Showtime's KIDDING

www.youtube.com/watch

What an incredible trailer.

Jim Carrey’s “sad clown" phase may be disarming to some, but this looks fantastic.

Our First Look at BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE

www.youtube.com/watch

Hey! It’s a freaky ass noir thriller by the guy who directed The Cabin in the Woods!

I AM THERE.

Scribit: the Programmable Robot that Draws on Walls (on Purpose)

Colossal:

kck.st/2JqvGxp

Sure seems like we at Super Art Fight could be out of a job soon!

Lin-Manuel Miranda's IN THE HEIGHTS Set For 2020 Film Adaptation

ComingSoon.net:

The rights deal last month also saw director Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) sign on to direct, Quiara AlegrÁ­a Hudes set to write the script and Miranda to return in some fashion to the production, but likely not in the lead role of Usnavi.

And now the world can go back to asking “Hamilton movie WHEN?"

MONDO Goes A24 Crazy with New Posters for HEREDITARY and A GHOST STORY

Mondo:

In addition to HEREDITARY, we also have a poster for A GHOST STORY by Sam Wolfe Connelly. This was a really special film and one of our favorites to come out in 2017. Sam Wolfe Connelly’s sullen, moody poster perfectly references the emotional complexity of the film. We love Sam, we love this film, we were incredibly excited to bring the two together.

Both go on sale later today, June 8th.

These Are The ASGARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

Per Marvel’s press release sent all around the web yesterday:

The hotheaded VALKYRIE — and the human who shares her form, Annabelle Riggs.

SKURGE the EXECUTIONER, freshly returned from Hel.

THROG, the mightiest frog of thunder.

Kevin Masterson, the boy who took his father’s mace to become the hero THUNDERSTRIKE.

And the DESTROYER, the Asgardian armor built to take down Celestials — its wielder unknown.

Asgardians of the Galaxy, written by Cullen Bunn with art by Matteo Lolli, hits comic book store shelves in September.

Turns Out Pirates Buy The Most Stuff

Motherboard:

A new report out of the UK once again deflates the common narrative that pirates are exclusively looking to obtain free stuff.

I’ve been saying this for years. I know my prime era of piracy lead to me going down countless rabbit holes I wouldn’t have before, and supporting those creators moving forward.

It’s as if “Try Before You Buy" really works.

COMEDIANS IN CARS GETTING COFFEE Reveals Its First Netflix-Exclusive Season

twitter.com/JerrySein…

Scheduled to get into a car with Jerry Seinfeld this season: Jerry Lewis, Dana Carvey, Kate McKinnon, Alec Baldwin, Brian Regan, Ellen DeGeneres, Zach Galifianakis, John Mulaney, Dave Chappelle, Neal Brennan, Tracy Morgan, and Hasan Minhaj.

This is a great background noise show.

HITMAN 2 Announced For Consoles and PC This November

www.youtube.com/watch

The series moves to WB Games with this new installment, which even includes co-op missions!

INTERPOL Returns With New Album MARAUDER

Noisey:

I’ll listen to this as I keep chasing the highs that were Turn On The Bright Lights and Antics.

DC Comics Brings Back VERTIGO Imprint With New Creators, New Titles

DC Comics:

The relaunch is helmed by Mark Doyle, who returned to DC Vertigo last year after oversight of the Batman group of titles for DC. Under his leadership, DC Vertigo editorial is rededicating its focus to creating modern, socially relevant, high-concept, inventive stories appealing to readers of all genres.

DC Vertigo has curated seven new comic books giving writers and artists the creative freedom to tell their most imaginative stories. Kicking off the next 25 years of DC Vertigo, four monthly series will launch this fall/winter, while the remaining titles will follow in early 2019.

Click through to get the details on all seven titles.

I’m sure the Internet reacted normally and patiently to Zoe Quinn getting the writing nod on a new series.

I’m personally excited to see Rob Sheridan (ex-Nine Inch Nails) in the comic writing world.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Shake Shack Celebrates Pride!

Chew Boom:

The Price Shake features a strawberry base shake blended with Shack-made lemonade, topped with whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles.

Awesome sounding drink, awesome cause. Good on ya, Shake Shack!

Adam Savage Builds a 1000 Shot NERF Blaster

www.youtube.com/watch

I need one of these for my office.

Look at that, Instagram DOES Want To Be YouTube

TechCrunch:

(as did anyone who was paying attention. I’m not that smart.)

80's Sweden Gets Overrun by Giant Robots in GENERATION ZERO Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

Avalanche Studios, the team behind Just Cause and the Mad Max games have gone full 80’s (by way of artist Simon Stalenhag) in this new multiplayer game coming to PC, PlayStation and Xbox One next year.

Looks really cool.

Anker Looks to Corner the Nintendo Switch Portable Battery Market

The Verge:

Now, the Switch uses a standard USB-C port for charging, so pretty much any USB-C PD battery pack with a high enough power output will work in a pinch. But Anker’s new packs claim to be different: both power banks have been calibrated specifically for fast-charging the Nintendo Switch. Anker claims that players can fast-charge their consoles in less than three hours, even while still playing games.

There’s a bigger guy and a smaller guy, and both go on sale later this month.

PS4 Exclusive DAYS GONE Officially Set for February 2019

youtu.be/VDpHSP0e_…

Get ready to take on zombies on your PlayStation 4 on February 22, 2019.

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD Trailer Arrives

www.youtube.com/watch

When in doubt…add more dragons.

You Want a Plush, Creamsicle Kaiju Bunny, Yeah?

kck.st/2L4RY4Z

In a word: adorable.

It's A New Lisbeth Salander in THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER'S WEB

www.youtube.com/watch

No Fincher. No Craig. No Mara. It’s the vaguest of sequels to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

But…it doesn’t look bad.

Hey! Here’s a poster, too!

Amazon Reveals the FIRE TV CUBE

Amazon.com:

From across the room, just ask Alexa to turn on the TV, dim the lights, and play what you want to watch. With far-field voice recognition, eight microphones, and beamforming technology, Fire TV Cube hears you from any direction.

Enjoy hands-free voice control—search, play, pause, fast forward, and more. Plus, control your TV, sound bar, cable or satellite box, receiver, and more with just your voice.

Do more with Alexa. Fire TV Cube has a built-in speaker that lets you check the weather, listen to the news, control compatible smart home devices, and more—even with the TV off. Fire TV Cube is always getting smarter with new Alexa skills and voice functionality.

Experience true-to-life picture quality and sound with access to vivid 4K Ultra HD up to 60 fps, HDR, and the audio clarity of Dolby Atmos.

It’s a cube! It’s a set-top box! It’s an Echo! It’s a…universal remote?

It’s $120 ($90, if you’re a Prime member) and hits on June 21st.

Marvel Teases The ASGARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

Sent to many comic outlets last night…

As is the norm for these teasers, no further details are available at this time.

But, thanks to an astute reader over at Reddit, we may have an idea of what this relates to.

There is this reference in Jason Aaron’s amazing Thor: God of Thunder run…

COSMIC GOD COP!? I am freaking there.*

Our First Look at the Ikea/Sonos Partnership

The Verge:

Very cool! I’m intrigued to hear about the quality and the price range as we get closer to release.

RUMOR: Microsoft Delays Crackdown 3 To 2019

Kotaku:

The third Crackdown game, developed by the British studio Sumo Digital among other companies, was first announced at E3 in 2014. Last year, Microsoft said Crackdown 3 would come out alongside the Xbox One X on November 7, 2017. A polarizing showing at E3 2017 and some severe development struggles led Microsoft to delay the game, first to a vague “spring 2018" window, and now to next year, said those two sources, speaking anonymously so as to protect their careers.

Oof. Brutal for the Xbone.

GAMESTOP Gets an Exclusive PS4 SPIDER-MAN Marvel Legends Figure

Gamestop (Link is Currently Offline):

With the Marvel Legends Series, both kid and adult Marvel fans can start a legendary collection of comic- and movie-based Marvel characters. This 6-inch Gamerverse Spider-Man figure is highly articulated and features a game-inspired design, making it another worthy addition to the Marvel Legends Series.

  • Game-inspired design
  • Premium articulation and detailing
  • Character-inspired accessories
  • Look for other Marvel Legends Series figures (each sold separately)

I have to admit that this design is growing on me.

MR ROBOT Duo To Team Again on AMERICAN RADICAL

Deadline:

I’m guessing with another Mr. Robot season coming down the pike, these guys must really like working with each other.

NASA's Got a Mars Announcement Tomorrow

NASA.gov:

The event will air live on NASA Television and the agency’s website.

Hmm. Wonder what it’s going to be?

My guess? They finally found Matt Damon!

'Who Gets To Be On The Steam Store?'

Steam Blog:

With that principle in mind, we’ve decided that the right approach is to allow everything onto the Steam Store, except for things that we decide are illegal, or straight up trolling. Taking this approach allows us to focus less on trying to police what should be on Steam, and more on building those tools to give people control over what kinds of content they see. We already have some tools, but they’re too hidden and not nearly comprehensive enough. We are going to enable you to override our recommendation algorithms and hide games containing the topics you’re not interested in. So if you don’t want to see anime games on your Store, you’ll be able to make that choice. If you want more options to control exactly what kinds of games your kids see when they browse the Store, you’ll be able to do that. And it’s not just players that need better tools either - developers who build controversial content shouldn’t have to deal with harassment because their game exists, and we’ll be building tools and options to support them too.

I’ll be honest - I think that there is a difficult game being played here.

I think that openness is always a better idea than being closed.

Some may abuse this. But at the same time, some may succeed where they were unable to before.

I’ve seen some of the gaming press wringing their hands over this - and I agree, some not great, tasteless stuff has been on Steam…but you can say the same thing about storefronts like Amazon.

What is the best way of being “open"? What is the best way to deal with things we don’t like?

I think at the end of the day, the dollar will rule here. For better, or for worse.

I’d be up for a friendly debate/discussion on this. Comments should be open. Fire away.

Ryan Gosling Is Neil Armstrong in FIRST MAN. PEOPLE Gets the First Look

PEOPLE.com:

In the upcoming historical drama, the Oscar-nominated actor stars as pioneering astronaut Neil Armstrong. The film, which re-teams Gosling with his La La Land director Damien Chazelle, follows Armstrong’s incredible journey to becoming the first person to walk on the Moon in 1969.

A historial space travel epic from the director of La La Land and Whiplash?

I am freaking there. Bring it on!

A STAR IS BORN: The Latest Remake with Bradley Cooper & Lady Gaga Gets A Trailer

youtu.be/ywkF1lj5w…

Here comes the trailers for Oscar bait!

Could we see Gaga build out her EGOT?

The Verge Looks at Sonos's New BEAM Soundbar

The Verge:

You’ll also find evidence of Sonos’ technical roots. These are deep speaker nerds doing deep speaker nerd things. They design everything in-house, no off-the-shelf parts. The labs have dogbone-shaped tables so everybody can stand close to each other and to their prototypes (Some of those tables are hooked up to a 24-hour-a-day video conference system to identical tables in other offices.) There’s a room where a hundred speakers have been entombed to play at maximum volume for months on end.

But thinking of Sonos as just a transported Silicon Valley company misses the point entirely. It’s something different, something much more interesting. Sonos participates in the fast-paced world of tech, but it’s trying to translate that quarterly cycle of innovation onto a more humane timescale.

The latest product to come out after spending two years in those labs is the Sonos Beam, a new $399 soundbar that will be available on July 17th. It’s a carefully designed, premium speaker that needs to work at two radically different speeds: the lightning-quick, fast-paced feature cycle of the overall tech industry and the slower pace of the living room. It encapsulates everything Sonos is and everything Sonos needs to get right.

I know this sentence strikes fear in my wife’s wonderful heart, but…

…this sounds really promising, and as someone who has been looking into the connected audio world (whether Alexa or Siri or what have you), this seems like a great, well-priced entry point.

I will be watching reviews closely.

So, A New DIABLO Is Coming, Then?

Blizzard Careers Page:

We’re working on a new, unannounced Diablo project. Are you a skilled Dungeon Artist? Come work with us, and together we will build something exceptional.

That’s certainly one way to announce a new game, right?

Either that or Blizzard is about to look for a new HR person.

What If TETRIS, But REZ: TETRIS EFFECT Trailer

youtu.be/Mr8fVT_Ds…

Tetsuya Mizuguchi does it again. WITH TETRIS NO LESS.

Wow.

Long-Lost Japanese Video Games Have Been Discovered in a Folder of ROMs on a Private Forum

New SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE Trailer Swings Into Action

youtu.be/g4Hbz2jLx…

Holy Shit. This looks SO GOOD!

The visual style is stunning, I love Miles’s relationship with his dad, and that cameo at the end…the Internet’s gonna love this one.

I am there!

#FastFoodArmsRace: Burger King Testing New Crispy Pretzel Chicken Fries

Instagram Videos Can Now Go AN HOUR LONG.

Crayola Gets Into The Makeup Game

Hot Wheels Releases a GoPro Ready Car

Goddamnit, We’re Getting a Jared Leto JOKER Movie

Hollywood Reporter:

Warner Bros. is in the early stages of developing with Leto a standalone movie project and is currently out to writers for a take, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

Leto would star and exec produce the solo movie that is set in the Suicide Squad universe. Just when I thought things were looking promising for the DCEU.

Oscar Issac is a Nazi Hunter in OPERATION FINALE

www.youtube.com/watch

I’m here just to see Oscar Issac and Ben Kingsley to play off each other.

It's Easier to Browse the Web in the EU Now?

Lifehacker:

Annoying as these privacy emails have been, the law has forced a number of big companies to make fairly dramatic changes to how they collect and store your data, including affording you more opportunities to see what they know about you and delete data you don’t want them to have.

Curiously enough, GDPR might also improve your browsing speeds—at least, according to a few sources who have performed some hands-on testing across a number of sites. Huh.

Why can’t that be the way, uh, everywhere? I mean - look at that USA Today screenshot!

As always - I try to keep this site running lean, mean, and easy to use. If there’s any problems, please let me know.

#FastFoodArmsRace: IHOP Becomes IHOb?

twitter.com/IHOP/stat…

OK, this is definitely some of that “using our social media to get blogs to write about us” shit going on (guilty as charged.)

My guess - the B is for Bacon or Bargains.

Best answer on Twitter so far? Butts.

First Look at the New Animated ADDAMS FAMILY Movie

Coming Soon:

Vernon and Tiernan co-direct from Matt Lieberman’s screenplay based on the Charles Addams’ iconic cartoon series. The film will be produced by Vernon with Gail Berman, via her shingle The Jackal Group, and Alex Schwartz. It will be executive produced by Andrew Mittman, Kevin Miserocchi and Joe Earley. Tabitha Shick, MGM’s Executive Director, Worldwide Motion Pictures is overseeing the project on behalf of the studio. CG Animation and digital visual effects production is underway in Vancouver at Cinesite Studios, one of the world’s most highly respected independent digital entertainment companies.

Based on the famous New Yorker creations of Charles Addams, this animated action-comedy will follow the Addams family whose lives begin to unravel when they face-off against a crafty reality-TV host while also preparing for their extended family to arrive for a major celebration, Addams-style. I like it! Reminds me a lot of the original Charles Addams designs, but in 3D.

Look forward to seeing it in motion, and Oscar Issac as Gomez is killer casting.

Cards Against Humanity Launches The DAD PACK

Cards Against Humanity:

We usually say no to these opportunities because we don’t have any funny ideas. But this year, Target made us an offer we couldn’t refuse: Father’s Day Sale. Dads are one of the funniest parents you can have. We just can’t stop writing about them.

After we agreed, Target threw us a curveball — our Father’s Day Sale had to be in the DVD section, which is where fathers shop. We immediately knew what we had to do: create awesome fake dad movies from the 90s. Saw these the other day (possibly early?) at Barnes and Noble.

The DVD cases are really impressive in person. They 100% have the “discount DVD rack” vibe. Recommend you check out the cover arts on the website.

Just $6, too!

WIRED: 'Apple's Software Chief Details How iOS Apps Will Run On Macs'

Lauren Goode at WIRED:

Except, that “No” should have had an asterisk after it, because while Apple still plans to ship two distinct operating systems—one for mobile, one for desktop—the company has been working on bringing iOS apps to Mac hardware. In an exclusive interview with WIRED, Federighi said the frameworks for porting iPhone and iPad apps to the Mac have been in development for two years. He revealed some of the technical details around how this will work, and shared some of the types of iOS apps he believes make sense on the Mac. Some very cool, very interesting stuff is coming down the pike for the macOS/iOS world, sounds like. Worth a read for the tech nerds.

Bungie Unveils DESTINY 2: FORSAKEN

www.youtube.com/watch

Polygon:

Forsaken will return random rolls, loadout flexibility, weapon customization and new supers. It also adds lots of new features like bows and a new PvPvE mode, Gambit. Thanks to a Bungie ViDoc that kicked off the livestream, players can view all of the changes coming to Destiny 2 in a nine-minute dump.

Forsaken will bring players back to the asteroid belt and the Prison of Elders. While the story won’t be properly revealed until E3, it seems to focus around the Fallen, Cayde-6 and the mysterious Awoken. PvPvE sounds interesting, but besides that, I’m not entirely blown away with the efforts for the next year, let alone the annual pass idea.

I get it — Games as a Service are the “thing" now, but, after the last year of Destiny 2 and the general blandness of everything that wasn’t the initial, brilliant campaign, I think I’m good.

#FastFoodArmsRace: KFC UK To Take On Vegetarian Fried Chicken?

Foodbeast:

The chicken chain is officially working on the first vegetarian fried chicken to ever hit a big-name QSR.

The faux meat’s first destination will be the United Kingdom, where smaller places like Temple of Seitan are famous for their own versions of plant-based fried chicken. What hath science wrought?

Hasbro Reveals SDCC 2018 Exclusive STAR WARS Doctor Aphra Set

io9:

A New Trailer for Peter Jackson's MORTAL ENGINES

www.youtube.com/watch

What a wild looking movie. I do not envy the marketing team trying to sell this though.

Stunning visuals aside, there are a lot of big, crazy concepts for the average moviegoer to wrap their head around.

Maybe I’m wrong, but this has “Future Cult Classic Underappreciated in Its Time” written all over it.

UPDATE: Hey! There’s a poster now too!

Looks like iPad is Getting Face ID

Who Will Be The Next WILLY WONKA? (Yep, They're Doing Another One.)

TAG Already Looks Weird, Now I Have To Look For CGI Arms

Apple Delivers the 2018 Apple Design Awards

THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART Goes Full MAD MAX in Its First Teaser

AV Club: 'The Truman Show was a delusion that came true'

A Story of a Girl and Her Robot: First BUMBLEBEE Teaser Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

This looks like a very different sort of Transformers movie…and I’m into it?

I definitely like how much the design work is simplified, and that redesign of, who, I assume, is Starscream looks great!

Now, for the continuity problems it’s going to create…

A new poster was released for Bumblebee as well.

Update on the TICKETFLY Hack

Marvel x VANS "OFF THE WALL" Collection 2018

The Latest on Noah Hawley's DOCTOR DOOM Film

Alamo Drafthouse Premieres THE BIG SHOW Experience

#FastFoodArmsRace: A1 Sold Candles?!

ROCKET LEAGUE Gets a JURASSIC WORLD Car Pack

Quick and Dirty Apple WWDC 2018 Roundup

Rockstar Games Unveils RED DEAD REDEMPTION II Special Editions & Pre-Order Bonuses

THE LEGO MOVIE 2 Gets A New Poster

New Trailer hits the web tomorrow!

I wonder why everyone is so MAD MAX’d out this time?

RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET: WRECK-IT RALPH 2 Gets A New Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

I can’t wait to see this! I love the auto complete search bar gag…but that Princesses scene and Star Wars integration is all everyone is going to be hyped about.

Fandango Has An Exclusive Poster for JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM and It's The Stupidest Thing

Seriously, if you buy your tickets for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom on Fandango, they’re going to try to entice you to order…that masterpiece.

(Free with shipping and handling.)

Steve McQueen Reveals First Trailer for WIDOWS

www.youtube.com/watch

The director of Hunger, Shame and 12 Years a Slave has a hell of a cast here, and the plot sounds interesting too:

Our First Look at Amazon's Remake of SUSPIRIA

Loved the GO Games? Sorry, No More, Says Square Enix

Some Extended Thoughts on SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY (2018)

Since you’ve probably read a few dozen reviews of SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY by now, I decided to avoid writing a full, proper review of the film. Instead, I give you some various thoughts I had about the movie, in lengthy bullet-pointed form.

RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET: WRECK-IT RALPH 2 Poster Hits The Web

Hey, look at that! Just in time for the trailer to hit tomorrow, too!

Polygon Takes a Look at Driving Horror Sim BEWARE

Geoff Johns Reveals First WONDER WOMAN 2 Teaser Image, Sorta

Proving again that movies get teased in the weirdest ways these days, DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns updated his Twitter header to the following image.

I don’t know about you, but I read that as Wonder Woman 2 (rumored to be set in the 1980’s), as being set in 1984, the year of my own birth!

LEGION Gets a Season 3 Pickup!

Sony Indefnitely Postpones SPIDER-MAN Spin-Off SILVER AND BLACK

NECA Unveils SDCC Exclusive Movie-Styled NINJA TURTLES Set

UbiSoft Cleverly Confirms ASSASSIN'S CREED ODYSSEY

Ticketfly Gets Hacked, Dozens of Websites Go Down, Data Possibly Compromised

The Verge:

Oh boy.

This sucks.

A lot.

Especially having a live event tomorrow at a Ticketfly affiliated venue.

Joy of joys.

PEPPERMINT Trailer: Sydney Bristow Is Ready To Kick Ass Again

www.youtube.com/watch

YOU BEAT THAT ASS JEN GARNER

Another E3 2018 Leak: Here Comes ASSASSIN'S CREED ODYSSEY, Headed to Ancient Greece!

Kotaku:

Rumors about the next Assassin’s Creed have been circulating for months now—some real, some fake—but the one we’ve been hearing since January from our own sources is that the game is indeed set in Greece, and that it’ll be even more of a drastic departure for the series than Origins. We’ve heard the same details from three people who have played the game, and several more who have heard about it secondhand. While Origins added Witcher-like RPG elements, Odyssey will take things even further, those people said, bringing dialogue options to the series for the first time. You’ll be able to play as either a male or a female protagonist, although the builds we’ve heard about did not feature Origins’ main characters Bayek or Aya, but new heroes.

I had heard that Origins was a return to form, if not an outright improvement from its predecessor, so it’s cool to see the franchise continue to evolve.

SDCC Gets an Exclusive Marvel Studios/Mondo Print, And It RULES

Comic-Con International: San Diego:

The 8-color, silkscreen print is 24" wide by 36" tall, presented on 100 lb. paper, and is of the highest quality. Each print is numbered by the printer, and signed by the artist!

Beautiful. Even with the massive watermark.

GORILLAZ Officially Announce New Album, Tour, And Release Two Songs!

Pitchfork:

Along with the tracks, Gorillaz have detailed their new record The Now Now—which arrives June 29 (via Warner Bros./Parlophone)—announced a tour, and confirmed that their Demon Dayz Festival will return for a second year (on October 20 in Los Angeles).

Here’s the track listing:

They’ll be going on tour to support it - with the tour dates listed at the aforementioned Pitchfork link.

As for the two new songs, here you go, in video form!

www.youtube.com/watch

www.youtube.com/watch

THE CROW Remake Is Dead. Yet Again.

Deadline:

“CAW CAW BANG FUCK DEAD”

Can we give up on this, please? The original exists in legend. Let it be.

Coheed and Cambria Return with 'The Dark Sentencer'

www.youtube.com/watch

Hey! Coheed and Cambria!

Haven’t heard from you in a long while.

What’s this new song about? I see it’s 10 minutes long, that seems a little self-indulge—

…alright then. You do you guys. You do you.

Tom Cruise Gives Us a First Look at TOP GUN 2

twitter.com/tomcruise…

I’ll be honest, if Tom Cruise doesn’t stand on the wings of a jet or something, this whole return of the Top Gun franchise is trash.

Snoop Dogg Is Now A Guinness World Record Holder

FOX31 Denver:

While at the BottleRock Napa Valley music festival on Saturday, Snoop teamed up with rapper Warren G and “Top Chef” winner Michael Voltaggio to make the world’s largest gin and juice.

What a world.

I wonder what 1993 The Chronic’/Doggystyle’-era Snoop would think of 2018 Snoop.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Quiznos' Now Has Tots!

Brand Eating:

The twice-toasted tots are available plain or topped with bacon, jalapenos, and cheddar cheese and can be found at locations nationwide.

Real talk: Especially now that most of them have closed around me, I have a soft spot for Quiznos’.

Especially the Chicken Carbonara sub.

#FastFoodArmsRace: It's Fudgie The Whale! In Beer Form!

Mental Floss:

This is cool and all, but I really don’t give a shit until Cookie Puss gets his own beverage.

Kotaku: 'The Man Who Inspired Snorlax'

Kotaku:

I enjoyed this on so many levels. He really is Snorlax.

Fans Collaborate For 'HYRULE Taste of the Wild' Cooking Magazine

Etsy:

Wonderfully well done. Bravo, nerds.

James Marsden to Star in SONIC THE HEDGEHOG

Variety:

I’m going to assume he’s not the hedgehog, yeah?

Beats by Dre Reveals 'The Decade Collection'

Beats by Dre:

If you really love Beats, here’s some special 10th Anniversary Headphones you can buy.

The “special" part? The color scheme. At least it’s not a premium for pricing.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Malt-O-Meal & Cold Stone Creamery Make Bagged Cereal Magic

Cerealously:

It’s a pair of cereal pairings with Cold Stone Creamery: Birthday Cake Remix, which features cake batter flavored ice cream and chocolate marshmallows, and Our Strawberry Blonde, which boasts a tantalizing mix of honey graham squares, strawberry puffs, and marshmallows.

Good lord. I bet they might actually taste good, though.

Countdown until they start using them in the mixes at Cold Stone?

THE POUCH Arrives In Comics This June

The Beat:

Never let it be said that Liefeld doesn’t have a sense of humor about himself, especially after that hilarious joke at his expense in Deadpool 2 that he himself has said he loved. Looks like Liefeld wasn’t kidding when he teased the character appearing in an actual comic.

Today Image Comics announced a very special Rob Liefeld variant cover to the #23 issue of Liefeld’s highly anticipated BLOODSTRIKE BRUTALISTS arc featuring story and artwork by Michel Fiffe (COPRA). This variant cover introduces an all-new character—The Pouch!

Incredible.

Rob remains on my wishlist for Super Art Fight. Especially now.

Bloomberg's Got First Word on the 3rd Pixel Phones By Google

Bloomberg:

The Alphabet Inc. unit is planning at least two new models, likely to be dubbed the “Pixel 3" and “Pixel 3 XL,“ said people familiar with the matter. The larger phone is designed with a nearly edge-to-edge screen, except for a thicker bezel known as a chin at the bottom of the phone. The display also will have a notch – or a cutout – at the top. The smaller model will look similar to the Pixel 2 and won’t include the notch or edge-to-edge look, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans aren’t yet public.

I’m not really someone who typically keeps his finger on the pulse of the Android world, but I was surprised that these phones didn’t make an appearance at Google I/O this year.

I do really want Google to make some kick-ass flagships. Maybe this year will finally sand down the rough edges of the Pixel phone so far.

THE MAGIC ORDER, Netflix's First Comic Book, Gets A Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

You can’t say that Netflix isn’t going all-in on promoting their first title released alongside Mark Millar.

Adult Swim Launches US Concert Tour with The Pillows to Celebrate FLCL

IGN:

Adult Swim Presents The Pillows Featuring FLCL Mono Me You Sun Tour will begin on July 10 in Boston and concludes on July 19 in Los Angeles.

It’ll be a limited six-city concert tour where fans can hear new songs from the anime series, such as “Spikey Seeds” and “Star Overhead,” among others.

Jeff Smith's RASL Goes Full-Color

ICv2:

Much how Bone was individual issues, turned into trades, turned into a solo collection, then turned into colored trades, I’m glad to see Jeff Smith’s second major project get the color treatment!

I’m also happy to see that the book is still with Steve Hamaker doing the color, too!

'Sources: Fallout 76 Is An Online Survival RPG'

Kotaku:

Those people, speaking anonymously so as not to damage their careers, confirmed that Fallout 76 is an experimental new entry in the longrunning post-apocalyptic series. When Bethesda first teased the game on Tuesday morning, fans and pundits speculated that it might be a Fallout 3 remaster or a New Vegas-style spinoff in a new location, but as Kotaku reported that afternoon, it is in fact something completely new and completely different. The teaser might lead Fallout fans to believe that this is a traditional entry in the series, but according to our sources, that’s not the case.

So, different than the usual, that’s for sure. You still in, my dear nerds?

NECA Releases Shane Black PREDATOR Figure For SDCC

Bloody Disgusting:

The 7"³ action figure, a SDCC 2018 Exclusive, will be limited to just 3,000 pieces, and will be put up for grabs at NECA’s event booth for $30.

Shane Black has his own action figure. What a world we live in.

'Bye, Chrome: Why I’m switching to Firefox and you should too'

Co.Design:

So how do you walk the line between taking advantage of the internet’s many benefits while protecting yourself from the corporate interests that aim to use your data for gain? This is the push-and-pull I’ve had with myself over the past year, as I’ve grappled with the revelations that Cambridge Analytica has the personal data of more than 50 million Americans, courtesy of Facebook, and used it to manipulate people in the 2016 elections. I’ve watched companies shut down their European branches because Europe’s data privacy regulations invalidate their business models. And given the number of data breaches that have occurred over the past decade, there’s a good chance that malicious hackers have my info—and if they don’t, it’s only a matter of time.

While the amount of data about me may not have caused harm in my life yet—as far as I know—I don’t want to be the victim of monopolistic internet oligarchs as they continue to cash in on surveillance-based business models. What’s a concerned citizen of the internet to do? Here’s one no-brainer: Stop using Chrome and switch to Firefox.

I’ll just be over here using Safari.

The browser that doesn’t have ads like Firefox, and is by a company whose privacy policy couldn’t be more clear or concise.

(inb4 “Safari on Windows was crap!“)

New Images From RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET: WRECK-IT RALPH 2

USA Today:

Disney’s animated sequel Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 (in theaters Nov. 21) takes the oafish video-game bad guy (voiced by John C. Reilly) out of the neighborhood arcade and into the World Wide Web with best friend Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman), the kid princess of the candy-coated Sugar Rush game.

The follow-up also features Taraji P. Henson and Alan Tudyk as new characters, familiar faces such as Star Wars Stormtroopers and Disney princesses, and a buddy comedy at its core.

I think the Star Wars tie-in was unknown before today, but visually, Ralph Breaks The Internet looks as strong as its predecessor. 

We’re due for a new trailer for this any minute now, right? Maybe with Incredibles 2?

How Fox Nabbed WWE

Hollywood Reporter:

Both shows have been fixtures on NBCUniversal cable networks, and NBCU was fully expecting to keep things that way with a new 10-year deal worth $360 million, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter. But Peter Rice, chairman and CEO of Fox Networks Group, knew that NBCU’s exclusive negotiating window was due to lapse at 4:59 p.m. ET on May 16. By the end of the meeting, the two sides had shaken hands on a five-year deal for SmackDown — the live Friday night showcase — worth $1.025 billion.

How the deal — which is not yet final but expected to close soon — went down says a lot about the importance of wrestling and other live events to network strategy, especially as the Murdoch family prepares to launch “New Fox” after most of its assets are sold to Disney or Comcast. Sports will become an integral piece of the new company, which will include sports cable nets FS1 and FS2 and the Big Ten Network.

I know, I know - WRESTLE TALK OH GOD.

But - this is really interesting to see how much value is being placed by major networks on live sports programing - and how far they’re willing to go to get it away from their rivals.

The xkcd Phone 2000

Once again, Randall Monroe aims to deliver a phone for the people.

Check it out here.

Past xkcd Phones are here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Sony Reveals June 2018 PS Plus Game List

PlayStation.Blog:

Next is the ultimate platform-racing game, Trials Fusion. Using your skills, strive to set track records against the best Trials players from around the globe. Whether you’re racing alone, with friends, or in a global tournament, competition is always around you.

This month’s PlayStation Plus lineup also includes:

Zombie Driver HD, PS3Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, PS3Atomic Ninjas, PS VitaSquares, PS Vita

There you have it, gang. I figure I’ll give Trials Fusion a run or two.

#FastFoodArmsRace: McDonald's Unleashes A Clothing Brand to Sell Soda

GQ:

Still not as good as the Taco Bell/Forever 21 collection.

New From FIGMA: PREDATOR

figma Blog:

映画『プレデター2』を基に竹谷隆之氏がアレンジ、造形、ご本人監修の元こだわり抜かれたオリジナルのプレデターがfigmaになって登場です°Ë–✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°

Let’s go ahead and translate that, yeah?

Based on the movie “Predator 2” Mr. Takaya Takeya arranges, shaping, the original predecessor of superintendent superintendent has emerged as a figma.

So, the short version is - we’ve got a super manga’d out Predator figure. And it looks good.

Jeff Goldblum Sez: 'Don't Talk! Don't Text!'

youtu.be/1K9g18kEx…

Another great PSA from/for the Alamo Drafthouse.

MoviePass to Launch 'MoviePass Films'

Hollywood Reporter:

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Helios is paying Randall Emmett and George Furla, head of the film financing and production banner, a combination of cash and stock. The deal for EFO Films, which produced Lone Survivor and Broken City, will also allow the parent of the controversial movie theater subscription service, which famously sells 30 cinema tickets for the price of one, to move forward with plans to launch MoviePass Films to produce and distribute movies.

No better way to help lessen the blows when you’re losing money hand over fist quite like BUYING A FILM STUDIO.

Jesus Christ, these guys really want to burn as bright as possible before being snuffed out.

Geppi's Entertainment Museum to Close For Good This Sunday

Baltimore Sun:

“As a Baltimorean, you might think to yourself, We’re losing a museum,’ but Washington’s only 40 miles away — it’s not going very far,“ said Geppi, 68, who opened the museum, with its treasure trove of vintage comic books and other pop-culture items, in September 2006 on the second floor of the historic Camden Station.

Say what you will about Geppi - and what his business, Diamond, has done to the comics industry - but it’s still a shame to see such a cool museum close.

LEGO Gets Villainous With LEGO DC SUPER-VILLAINS Game Coming This October!

www.youtube.com/watch

Hits shelves on October 16th.

Probably plays the same as the rest, but I like the idea of focusing on the villains side of things.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Arby's Releases Its Own Font

Co.Design:

That font is called “Saucy AF”, and you can download it here.

Now, to troll my graphic designer friends…

#FastFoodArmsRace: Burger King Releases The WHOPPER DONUT, In Just 5 Locations

Chew Boom:

Described as the “first flame-grilled donut ever,“ the Whopper Donut will be offered alongside a free mini slider at just five U.S. locations on Friday — while supplies last.

Not sure what’s sadder:

Bethesda Reveals FALLOUT 76

www.youtube.com/watch

Welcome to West Virginia, Fallout fans.

UPDATE: Rumor from Kotaku says

Wal-Mart Leaks TEAM SONIC RACING (Updated with Trailer)

Gematsu:

Score another great win for the Walmart game listing upload team.

Game looks fun, for what it’s worth. I’ve always heard the Sonic racing games were pretty great.

It’s real, and its coming this Winter! Have a trailer.

www.youtube.com/watch

JURASSIC WORLD ALIVE, or, POKEMON GO But With Dinosaurs, Hits Today

www.youtube.com/watch

Any interest in playing this, PokÁ©mon GO heads?

If you are interested, it’s up in the App Store here.

Disney XD Releases A Trailer for SPIDER-MAN: Season 2

www.youtube.com/watch

Do I know anyone who watched Season 1? Any good?

How does it compare to Spectacular Spider-Man, AKA the GREATEST SPIDER-MAN CARTOON OF ALL TIME?

TANK: An Awesome, 80's Throwback Short Film

www.youtube.com/watch

Incredibly dope.

I’d be game to see a full movie like this. Y’know, besides Tron.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Starbucks Japan Launches A Golden Green Tea Frappuccino

SoraNews24:

That’s right, the coffee chain has kicked off its “Starbucks Japan Wonder Project" with a new Frappuccino featuring a unique type of hojicha (roasted green tea) known as the Kaga Bo Hojicha (Kaga Stick Roasted Tea). The Japan Wonder Project will apparently focus on various Japanese culinary ingredients that may not be widely known but have the potential to be arranged and presented to consumers in an interesting and attractive light as modern food and drink items with a Starbucks twist.

Interesting.

I wish that all of these food franchises would at least consider bringing their goods to the states, even as a very limited promotion.

Plex Adds Podcasts and More

The Verge:

Plex continues to add even more blades to its ever-growing media Swiss Army Knife.

Atari Launches the VCS on Indiegogo

Indiegogo:

It’s from Atari, so of course there are classic arcade games, plus the latest modern and Indie PC titles from a wide variety of independent developers.

Proprietary Atari VCS User Interface with optional voice control and integrated web browser for full access to all that the internet has to offer to navigate and curate your personalized entertainment experience.

Built on an open source Linux OS so you can add your own software and apps to customize your own platform.

A planned line of Atari VCS peripherals and accessories will let you build your own Game and Entertainment-Powered “Connected Home" experience.

Everywhere from $29 for a controller to $339 for the full experience. Still feels to me like there are a lot of details not filled in, but hey, if you want to back this new system - the time is now!

Clutter x DC: Glow-In-The-Dark Batman for Five Points Festival

Clutter Magazine:

Sculpted and modeled by Clutter’s own American Gros, based on a Batman drawing by DC’s amazing Executive Creative Director Jim Fletcher, and loving lovingly produced in NY by us at Clutter Studios, this piece is releasing for the first time at Five Points Festival this coming weekend, June 2nd & 3rd!

SUPER cool looking. A little pricey for my taste, though.

Pokemon Games Revealed For The Nintendo Switch

Nintendo Official Site:

Here’s what you really want - trailers.

PokÁ©mon Quest is available - for free - right now, and the Let’s Go! games hit in November.

Intellivision RETURNS!

Jeff Goldblum Announces Debut Album(!!!)

Disney Parks Reveals Name of the Village for STAR WARS: GALAXY'S EDGE

Andrew Lincoln Leaving The Walking Dead

JAMIE FOXX IS...UH, SPAWN?

They're making a CREEPY CRAWLERS Movie. For Reasons.

ROSANNE Cancelled, Reruns Scrubbed

MEGA MAN 11 To Arrive This October

Zelda Themed New Nintendo 2DS XL Hits Gamestop This July

Weezer Covers Toto's 'Africa', Because The Internet Asked

www.youtube.com/watch

Well done, Internet. Only took 6 months to make it happen.

THE INCREDIBLES' New Home is Up on Zillow

Zillow.com:

You’ll never tire of the view with floor-to-ceiling windows looking over Municiberg. But what’s really impressive are the smart devices wired throughout the house to make daily chores a breeze, even for novice homemakers. However, it’s not all about housework. You’ll be the hero of hosting with remote-controlled features in the grand room, like a fireplace and movable flooring that reveal pools filled by waterfalls from above. Entertain in the conversation pit, perfect for reliving glory days.

The huge yard allows kids to run around and disappear into a world of imagination. It even includes an infinity pool that serves as the ceiling for the den!

For those who require a certain amount of anonymity, you’ll feel nearly invisible with multiple secret entrances, including a garage concealed by a waterfall. Perfect for protecting secret identities.

This home is the complete package for a truly incredible family. Really clever promotional tie-in for Incredibles 2.

GORILLAZ Tease A New Album, 'THE NOW NOW', Hitting June 29th

Stereogum:

Guillermo del Toro Gets SDCC Exclusive Action Figure

EW.com:

EW can exclusively reveal that NECA has produced a model of the director as part of the company’s Guillermo del Toro Signature Collection, which also features Santi from The Devil’s Backbone and Pale Man and Faun from Pan’s Labyrinth. The del Toro figure is a limited edition of 2,000 and will be available to buy for $40 from the NECA booth at this year’s Comic-Con in San Diego. The action figures comes with a replica of the notebook Del Toro used to record his notes and sketches for Pan’s Labyrinth. Yeah, I’m going to want to track down one of these.

New, Full Trailer for CHRISTOPHER ROBIN

www.youtube.com/watch

This is gonna make me cry. I’m 99% sure of it.

BOND 25 Is On! Danny Boyle to Direct, Universal Pictures To Distribute

Coming Soon:

Production on Bond 25 is set to begin at the end of the year on December 3. MGM will release the film theatrically in the U.S. on November 8, 2019 through its new joint venture for domestic theatrical distribution with Annapurna Pictures, and Universal will release internationally commencing with a traditional earlier release in the U.K. on October 25, 2019. James Bond moves from Sony to Universal and gets the director we’re expecting. So, hopefully, this is better than SPECTRE.

Lucasfilm Signs James Mangold for a BOBA FETT Movie

The Hollywood Reporter:

James Mangold is writing and will direct a Star Wars stand-alone movie centered on Boba Fett, the feared bounty hunter and fan-favorite character, The Hollywood Reporter has exclusively learned.

The reveal comes as Disney and Disney-owned Lucasfilm prepare for the release of the latest Star Wars stand-alone film, Solo: A Star Wars Story. Solo, which opens Friday, is the second movie to be spun from the main Star Wars line — Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was the first — but it is the first to focus on a particular character. First things first: Twitter, well done with the “How long until James Mangold is replaced” gags. Bravo.

That said - I think this could be fun? I know, Boba Fett is a played out, nothing character who is simply beloved because he looks cool - but to me, that makes him a blank canvas. Maybe I’m expecting more, or giving more credit than is deserved, but Mangold delivered a great Wolverine movie - twice - so I’m pretty sure he can nail this.

At the same time - the sooner we expand the scope of Star Wars beyond what we know, the better. That’s why Rogue One was great. That’s why Solo had so many concerned.

New stuff, please.

Apple Rejects Steam Link App For Reasons

Ars Technica:

“On Monday, May 7, Apple approved the Steam Link app for release,” Valve said in a statement sent to Ars. “On Wednesday, May 9, Valve released news of the app. The following morning, Apple revoked its approval citing business conflicts with app guidelines that had allegedly not been realized by the original review team." Not cool, Apple.

I can’t see, at all, what this interferes with, any differently from the multitude of streaming services for TV shows and movies which would be in conflict with the iTunes Store.

This is just a streaming option, period. Get your head out of your ass, Cupertino.

Trailer Number Three for SICARIO: DAY OF THE SOLDADO

youtu.be/Um5vH28jc…

The Summer of Josh Brolin continues!

New The Get Up Kids Video for "BETTER THIS WAY"

youtu.be/2vFh9Ka6s…

I really love the feel of the songs shared so far from the Kicker EP. Going to be a must download next month.

Teaser Trailer for A SIMPLE FAVOR

youtu.be/BXLWzAfE0…

Who knew that Paul Feig could get creepy and serious?

Idris Elba To Direct and Star in HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME for Netflix

The Hollywood Reporter:

The Golden Globe winner will also direct and produce the project under his Green Door production shingle and will be producing original music for the feature, which is being described as a “sonic and musical experience.”

The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which is perhaps best known for its 1996 Disney animated adaptation, is an 1831 novel by Victor Hugo that follows Quasimodo, a hunchback, and his doomed romance with the Gypsy Esmeralda. I think it’s going to be a hard time seeing Elba as the Hunchback. TOO DAMN HANDSOME.

First Look at Matt Groening's DISENCHANTMENT for Netflix

Collider:

HOTEL ARTEMIS Gets A Red Band Trailer, Still Isn't Part of the JOHN WICK Universe

www.youtube.com/watch

I mean, seriously, this is what the hotel from John Wick is, right?

Not that this makes me movie look any less fun, but…

Oh Boy! Another Trailer for SKYSCRAPER

www.youtube.com/watch

Goddamn this looks gloriously dumb.

This is why I have a MoviePass.

The Next PlayStation is Still Three Years Away. At Least.

The Wall Street Journal:

Sony wants to spend three more years readying its next videogame move, the head of the PlayStation business said Wednesday. That would mark a slight slowdown in the six-to-seven-year update cycle for the console since the first one in 1994. The PlayStation 4 went on sale in 2013 and has sold more than 79 million units.

“We need to depart from the traditional way of looking at the console life cycle,“ he said. “We’re no longer in a time when you can think just about the console or just about the network like they’re two different things.“ So many questions about what the system may be by then.

A console/portable hybrid like the Switch? A dummy device allowing access to a game streaming service? A digital only console?

We’ll see in 2021, I guess.

Liam Neeson Has Been Taken By MEN IN BLACK

TheWrap:

Damon Lindelof Writes To Fans, Shares His HBO WATCHMEN Series Will Be 'A Remix'

Via the magic of Instagram:

instagram.com/p/BjFsj6J…

You can scroll through the images above to read his full letter, but here are some key excerpts:

They will however be remixed. Because the bass lines in those familiar tracks are just too good and we’d be fools not to sample them. Those original twelve issues are our Old Testament. When the New Testament came along it did not erase what came before it. Creation. The Garden of Eden. Abraham and Isaac. The Flood. It all happened. And so it will be with “Watchmen.” The Comedian died. Dan and Laurie fell in love. Ozymandias saved the world and Dr. Manhattan left it just after blowing Rorschach to pieces in the bitter cold of Antarctica.

This story will be set in the world its creators painstakingly built…but in the tradition of the work that inspired it, this new story must be original. It has to vibrate with the seismic unpredictability of its own tectonic plates. It must ask new questions and explore the world through a fresh lens. Most importantly, it must be contemporary. The Old Testament was specific to the Eighties of Reagan and Thatcher and Gorbachev. Ours needs to resonate with the frequency of Trump and May and Putin and the horse that he rides around on, shirtless. And speaking of Horsemen, The End of the World is off the table…which means the heroes and villains—as if the two are distinguishable—are playing for different stakes entirely. I think the bit I most admire here is there seems to be this understanding that Watchmen was already brought to life. We’ve seen it. Say what you will about Zack Snyder, but he - with some alterations - brought the original text to life.

This is an adaptation in the truest form. Adapting it. Remolding it. Making it something new for a new format.

And if the fact that the guy behind The Leftovers is behind it isn’t enough reason to trust this take, I don’t know what would win you over.

SHIT YEAH PHIL NOTO ON DAREDEVIL

Bleeding Cool:

Well, the answer in today’s Marvel August 2018 solicitations is Phil Noto, well known at Marvel for his Black Widow series. And no, Marvel is publishing two issues in August. #606 and #607, both by Noto. I love Phil Noto’s art. This will rule.

Michael Bay to Direct Ryan Reynolds in SIX UNDERGROUND for Netflix

Coming Soon:

Also, no, no this is not at all related to the old Sneaker Pimps hit single.

FINAL FANTASY TACTICS 2 Was ALMOST Real

USgamer:

According to Matsuno Final Fantasy Tactics 2 was at some point in the cards for Squaresoft. As Final Fantasy Tactics is considered one of the best SRPGs around this shouldn’t really be a surprise. However, as Matsuno details, confusion over the game’s direction led Square to shelve the project, but not before some concepts were drafted up for the game. What a wonderful PSOne-era flashback. Could’ve been really, really cool!

Hmm..Nintendo reapplied for the N64 Trademark

Japanese Nintendo:

Guess we will see an N64 Classic this Fall?

The Best Behind-the-Scenes Breakdown of SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY So Far

Variety:

But the latest installment, “Solo: A Star Wars Story,“ due out May 25, upstaged them all when the production veered off the rails so spectacularly that it forced filming to grind to a halt after four months. With mere weeks left on the shooting schedule, producer Kathleen Kennedy fired directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and hired veteran Ron Howard to right the ship.

Suddenly, the Oscar-winning director of 2001’s “A Beautiful Mind,“ who along with his Imagine Entertainment partner Brian Grazer has overseen dozens of features, was tasked with the daunting job of overhauling the embattled franchise spinoff. Howard shot about 70% of “Solo,“ thus earning him sole director credit on the movie, with Lord and Miller receiving executive producer acknowledgments. With the reshoots, the movie wound up costing more than $250 million. I still think there’s a longer story here, but with Solo hitting theaters on Friday, Kristopher Tapley got the most complete take yet.

OVERWATCH LEGO - Among Other Swag - Coming Soon

USgamer:

Other merchandise announced for the team-based FPS include Hasbro Master Toys, NERF blasters, and UNIQLO clothing. Activision Blizzard announced the new range of merch ahead of the Licensing Expo 2018. Yeah, gonna need to see those UNIQLO shirts…

Andy Serkis Brings a Darker, More Mature Jungle Book to the Screen with MOWGLI

www.youtube.com/watch

The CG and motion capture here is really freaky…but will it be enough to have audiences interested in a more adult take on The Jungle Book?

We find out in October.

The Obamas Are Coming to Netflix!

Netflix:

The Obamas will produce a diverse mix of content, including the potential for scripted series, unscripted series, docu-series, documentaries and features. These projects will be available to the 125 million member Netflix households in 190 countries. How cool is that?

THE LEGO MOVIE 2 Gets An Official Title and Release, uh, Month

Straight from Twitter…

twitter.com/TheLEGOMo…

Hopefully the behind-the-scenes issues (script problems, director swaps, etc.) haven’t hurt the film.

The original LEGO Movie is another of those amazing and surprising lighting-in-a-bottle moments, but I did think there was a well there. Let’s find out next year.

Jake Gyllenhaal in Talks to Play MYSTERIO in SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING 2

The Hollywood Reporter:

The actor is in talks to play the classic Marvel villain Mysterio in the sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming. Spider-Man creators Stan Lee and Steve Ditko introduced Mysterio in the comics in 1964. A special effects expert, Quentin Beck used his talents to create elaborate illusions to commit crimes and to fight Spider-Man. This is SO great. Mysterio is a Spider-Man villain I’ve always wanted to see come to life.

Also, much how Michael Keaton as the Vulture had a meta aspect to it (Spider-Man vs. Batman, or Birdman), the meta aspect here is that Gyllenhaal was in talks to replace Tobey Maguire for Spider-Man 2, when Tobey was dealing with a back injury.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Shake Shack Gets Its Own SHOES!

Esquire:

The new collaborative runners will be on sale at the original Shack in the park, where you can buy food, the sneakers, or both. The sneakers themselves are exactly what you would want out of a collaboration like this. They’re the Tree Runner, the brand’s classic shape, in its new fabric sourced from eucalyptus trees. But the colors are what truly make the shoe special. The sole and upper are a not-too-bright white, while the laces and tongue are bright, Shake Shack green. Plus, there’s a tiny Shack burger on the tongue. If you know, you know. These actually look really nice and super comfortable. I’m not a sneaker head by any means, but I’d wear them.

500ish Words: 'Screwing Your Vocal Minority'

500ish Words:

And so if the above is fucking insane, making the above decision and then making the decision to severely neuter the third-party apps that were filling in the holes you dug is absolutely mega ultra batshit fucking insane. The fact that so many third-parties were filling these holes should say enough"Š—“Šthey’re not just doing this for fun, they’re doing it because there are holes to be filled. What Twitter is saying, explicably"Š—“Šyet inexplicably from the 10,000 foot view"Š—“Šis that they like holes. They really, really just enjoy having holes in their product. And if you’re a user who doesn’t like to use products with holes? Well, you can use"Š—“Šnope, actually, you can’t. And also, if you happen to be amongst our most loyal and passionate users, fuck you. Following up from John Gruber’s awesome piece I linked last week, MG Siegler has some things to say about Twitter’s complicit third-party stupidity.

And I’m with him.

Toho Plans a Godzilla Cinematic Universe

Godzilla-Movies.com:

Not sure how it will work alongside the WB “Monsterverse”, built around 2014’s Godzilla and last year’s Kong: Skull Island.

Also of note from that article, a bummer for fans of Shin Godzilla:

Deadpool 2 (2018): A Review

When 2016’s Deadpool hit theaters, it was a necessary change of pace to the world of superhero films we had become accustomed to.

It was filthy, it was funny, it avoided the Summer season entirely (landing in the crisp cold of February), and it broke the fourth wall, constantly.

Fans - for the most part - loved it. I…sat a bit more mixed on it. I felt that the best interpretations of Deadpool focused on the pathos of the character, and the humor as a way of directing his pain and against, and was less drawn to the “monkey cheese" nature of the character. I did, think, however, that it had a brilliant showcase of Ryan Reynolds, finally getting the due he deserved as a leading action hero, I just wanted the flick to give him more to do.

Two years later, Deadpool 2 has arrived in theaters, and the question is - can lightning strike twice?

The problem for this movie is, unlike the first, the element of surprise is gone. It’s benefit is that this movie actually has some moments you can sink your teeth into. The action is stronger, the plot is bolder, the cast is wider and more diverse, and the humor - while still intensely graphic and appropriately childish - works…for the most part. (One sequence, in the style of the “tiny hand" gag from the first, had me in tears laughing.) Deadpool 2 lives up to the idea of what a proper sequel should be - larger in scope, more adventurous in tone, and more daring in its attempts to please the audience.

As a film, Deadpool 2 doesn’t work entirely - the first act is sort of stop and go, and the plot is a mess if you were to try to write it out step by step (and in a note to the writers, Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick - who wrote this installment with the help of Reynolds and wrote the first - just because you can have Deadpool point out bad writing doesn’t necessarily absolve it) - but if the audience I saw it with this afternoon is any indication, that doesn’t matter. It’s a full on crowd pleasure, with big laughs, big explosions, and just pure fun.

You may note that thus far, I haven’t really touched on the plot. Given that the trailers actually have done a great job of obscuring many moments and surprises from the film, I’m going to avoid going beat by beat here - but I can say that the movie takes Wade Wilson, our favorite hitman from the first film, and thrusts him into an adventure including the 90’s comic favorite, Cable (a time-traveling, giant gun carrying, cybernetic arm having Josh Brolin), a grumpy teenage fire starter named Russell (Julian Dennison, playing a very similar role to what he did in Hunt for the Wilderpeople, albeit with mutant powers), and Wade forming the first cinematic incarnation of X-Force, including the movie debut of the luck-having Domino (Atlanta’s Zazie Beatz, in a brilliant turn, including some shockingly cinematic sequences showcasing her luck-based abilities).

Deadpool 2 doesn’t strike the same lightning as the first film - but it’s a much better film than the first, and that’s all you can ask for in a sequel. The action is kinetic, the goofs are constant, the R-Rating is earned. Besides, how can you be mad at a movie whose score features a full chorus chanting “Holy Shit Balls"?

If that last sentence sold you - congrats, Deadpool 2 is the movie for you. If you didn’t like the first at all? This won’t bring you over. But if you, like me, felt the first showed promise - Deadpool 2 delivers on that promise in spades.

Deadpool 2 is in theaters now.

Cartoon Network to Launch THUNDERCATS ROAR in 2019

Entertainment Weekly:

EW can exclusively reveal that Warner Bros. Animation is bringing back the iconic cat-like aliens for new animated series called ThunderCats Roar, which will debut on Cartoon Network in 2019. Holy crap, this looks ADORABLE.

iOS and Mac Developers Launch The Developers Union

The Developers Union:

We believe that people who create great software should be able to make a living doing it. So we created The Developers Union to advocate for sustainability in the App Store.

Today, we are asking Apple to commit to allowing free trials for all apps in the App Stores by the tenth anniversary of the App Store this July. After that, we’ll start advocating for a more reasonable revenue cut and other community-driven, developer-friendly changes. I think it’s incredibly important for Apple to make it sustainable for iOS and macOS developers to continue to profit and grow their businesses. Clearly, there are issues with the way things are now. I hope they’re listening in Cupertino.

THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS Gets An EXTREMELY Red Band Trailer

youtu.be/-eks8LG72…

Holy shit. Don’t watch this at work.

I don’t know that I’ve laughed so hard. Goddamn.

'Thom Yorke: The Last Action Hero'

This series of 80’s action movie styled fan art posters for Radiohead front man Thom Yorke by “Butcher Billy” are absolutely amazing and hilarious.

HALO Hits The Arcade This Summer

Engadget:

NO MAN'S SKY Hits Xbox One and Gets Multiplayer This July

Polygon:

Hello Games, the developers of No Man’s Sky, released a teaser for the game’s “Next" update at the end of March. Its focus on multiplayer, however, was today’s big reveal. While limited multiplayer already exists in the game, Murray gave some examples that suggests the new iteration of multiplayer will allow for far more player interaction.

Players will be able to group up with friends to survive, build, race and simply relax in the massive space world that is No Man’s Sky. Murray described the Next update as a culmination of “this potential that everyone’s always seen in No Man’s Sky,“ he said during a live interview on the stream. I have to give so much credit to Hello Games for taking No Man’s Sky and making it into the game fans hoped it’d be on day one.

Steven Spielberg and Leonardo DiCaprio to take on ULYSSES S. GRANT!

Deadline:

Lionstate and Appian Way last November acquired movie rights to Grant, the bestselling Ron Chernow biography that is being adapted by David James Kelly. The writer just worked for Appian Way and Lionsgate on Robin Hood, the Otto Bathurst-directed that stars Taron Egerton in the starring role. Given how much I love Catch Me If You Can, I am way into this movie…even if it will most likely be dramatically different.

LEGO Announces App-Programable BATMOBILE

The Brothers Brick:

Jordan Peele to Produce 'Nazi-Hunting' series, THE HUNT for Amazon

Collider:

The Hunt is inspired by true-life events and comes from creator David Weil (Moonfall), who will also write the series and serve as an Executive Producer alongside Peele. Sonar Entertainment’s Tom Lesinski (Mr. Mercedes) and Jenna Santoianni (Mr. Mercedes), and Monkeypaw Productions’ Win Rosenfeld (Dark Net) will also executive produce. Inglorious Basterds the series? I’m there.

Marvel Reveals New WEST COAST AVENGERS Series

Marvel.com:

Other characters joining the West Coast fun are Gwenpool, whom Thompson describes as “a really weird X-factor" who will be going through some “really interesting" relationship developments; Quentin Quire, who is “always trouble,“ but “clearly wants a family"; and Kate’s boyfriend Johnny, who is in “way over his head,“ a situation that Thompson is very eager to explore. Love the art, love the creative team, love the makeup of the team roster. Will read!

LEGOLAND Japan Gets Record Setting LEGO Cherry Blossom Tree

My Modern Met:

At 14 feet tall and almost 5 feet wide, the incredible 3,333 kg (7,348 lb) piece set a new Guinness World Record for the “largest LEGO brick cherry blossom tree.“ Originally designed in the Czech Republic, and shipped to Japan to be assembled, it took over 6,500 hours to complete the structure with 881,470 bricks. The impressive piece features a grassy base, large branches, a canopy with thousands of flowers, and even LEGO lanterns that illuminate the structure at night. Amazing.

Red Band Trailer for SORRY TO BOTHER YOU

www.youtube.com/watch

Who would’ve thought that Boots Riley had a touch of Michele Gondry in him?

This looks like a wonderful, brilliant, and amazing flick. A late-Summer gem.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Nilla Banana Pudding Cereal

Chew Boom:

Golden Oreo O’s cereal features golden, crunchy O’s with a rich crÁ¨me coating.

Nilla Banana Pudding flavored cereal features Nilla wafer flavored pieces with banana flavor and marshmallows. A bummer I have to go to Walmart for this, but I WILL HAVE THAT BANANA PUDDING CEREAL.

Daring Fireball: 'The End of Third-Party Twitter Clients'

Daring Fireball:

Twitter management obviously wants to steer people to their first-party mobile app and desktop website. I get that. But they already have that: the overwhelming number of Twitter users use exactly those products to access the service. What Twitter management seems to be missing is that many of its most influential users — including yours truly, yes — have been on the platform a long time and have a high tendency to be among those who not just use, but depend upon third-party clients. Can’t say I don’t agree with the esteemed John Gruber on this. I’ve been on Twitter for 11 years. I met my wife on it. I made many friends on it.

But this is really just adding to my personal entropy towards social media. Don’t fuck this up, Twitter.

STAR WARS CELEBRATION 2019 Hits Chicago!

StarWars.com:

Chicago will be setting the stage for fans to celebrate all things Star Wars at McCormick Place on April 11-15, 2019! Tickets, including multi-day, single-day, and VIP passes, are scheduled to go on sale June 5 at noon CST at www.starwarscelebration.com. I’ve been wanting an excuse to go to Chicago, and I hear Celebration is always a great time.

UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT Enters The Workplace In Season 4

www.youtube.com/watch

Goddamn, Ellie Kemper is delightful.

Trailer for Spike Lee's BLACKKKLANSMAN

www.youtube.com/watch

I know this is the next Spike Lee movie, but this definitely feels like a Steven Soderbergh or Shane Black team up.

Gonna be controversial, but I’m into it.

YouTube Launches and Confuses with YouTube Music and YouTube Premium

Official YouTube Blog:

Shame, as some of the ideas - like the location and date/time based playlist suggestions - are really clever.

Best of luck, Google.

An OVERWATCH Nerf Fans Can Be Excited For!

From the Twitters…

twitter.com/PlayOverw…

I’m assuming that this will include “game accurate” weaponry, which could be pretty cool.

The cosplayer Nerf wars, though, those could get ugly.

LIVE! FROM NEW YORK...It's Twitch's Next TV Show Marathon!

Engadget:

Stan Lee Drama Continues, Sues POW! Entertainment For $1 BILLION

The Hollywood Reporter:

Lee is suing POW! Entertainment for fraud and conversion, claiming the company and two of its officers conspired to steal his identity, name and likeness in a “nefarious scheme” involving a “sham” sale to a Chinese company. I don’t even know what’s real any more with Stan. Is this legit? Is this his “advisors” and daughter talking him into awful deals?

Just…a sad time.

Howie Mandell is Looking to Revive BOBBY'S WORLD

Entertainment Weekly:

“I haven’t told anyone this, but I’m working on it. I’m working on it right now,“ Mandel told EW at the NBC Universal Upfronts Presentation on Monday. “I have a meeting on Wednesday. I’m keeping my finger’s crossed. That’s what I want to do. Let’s hope — write something about it and maybe it’ll happen.“ Everything old is new again. Even at the bottom of the pool. Where it must have been a while. ‘Cause I had time to write this song.

Marvel Studios Moves Forward with Script for THE ETERNALS

The Hollywood Reporter:

The studio behind Avengers: Infinity War has hired writers Matthew and Ryan Firpo, whose spec script Ruin shot to the top of the 2017 Black List, to pen the script for the superhero team adventure. We’re just gonna keep digging deeper and deeper into Marvel lore, aren’t we?

Surreal times to be alive.

Nintendo Drops a New Trailer for SUSHI STRIKER: THE WAY OF SUSHI

www.youtube.com/watch

This looks like silly amounts of fun.

Alfred Takes Center Stage in PENNYWORTH, A New DC Comics Series Coming to EPIX

The Hollywood Reporter:

The MGM-owned premium cable network has handed out a 10-episode, straight-to-series order for Pennyworth, a drama set in the Batman universe from Gotham showrunner Bruno Heller.

The series will revolve around Alfred Pennyworth, the best friend and butler to Bruce Wayne (aka Batman). The series is not a Gotham spinoff but rather an entirely new story exploring Alfred’s origins as a former British SAS soldier who forms a secret company and goes to work with Thomas Wayne — Bruce’s billionaire father — in 1960s London. Sean Pertwee, who plays Alfred Pennyworth on Fox’s recently renewed Gotham, is not involved. Casting has not yet begun and the series is set in a completely different universe despite hailing from Heller and producers Warner Horizon. (Others who have played the Alfred role include Jeremy Irons, Michael Gough, Michael Caine, Alan Napier and William Austin, among others.) Interesting. Even stranger that this isn’t connected to the current Gotham series, nor connected to the other DC shows, nor being aired on DC’s new “DC Universe” streaming service.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Wendy's Japan Brings Us Pizza-Flavored French Fries

Chew Boom:

The pizza-flavored fries feature a combination of pizza sauce and cheese flavors, and carry a suggested price of ¥ 280 (US$2.55) for a medium, ¥ 330 (US$3.00) for a large, and ¥ 450 (US$4.10) for a box. Yahoo! Answers causing movies in Japan, which lead to unholy food hybrids. What a world.

New Trailer for MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - FALLOUT

www.youtube.com/watch

I’ve really grown to love the Mission: Impossible franchise over the past few installments, and this looks to be just as thrilling as the last few - Rebecca Ferguson being a badass, Henry Cavill coming off super imposing, and Tom Cruise continuing to have a death wish.

I’ll be there in July!

ZOMBIELAND 2 Set For October 2019?

Vulture:

“We’re going on the tenth anniversary of Zombieland,“ Wernick tells Vulture. “Zombieland came out October of 2009. We don’t know what you get someone for their tenth anniversary, but it may be a Zombieland 2.“ Though he hedged with that “may be,“ it seems like it’s not so far from a “will be.“ “The hope is that we’re shooting that thing early 2019 for an October of ’19 release,“ Wernick added — then tossed in even more good news for devotees: “With the original cast, by the way.“ Hmm. I have a hunch Emma Stone might be hard to get for this one, as she’s on a whole different level from the rest of the cast.

At the same time, I ask - too little too late, here? The original Zombieland was great, but it feels like lightning in a bottle. Maybe I’m being too cynical here.

LEGO Announces Architecture Sets for the Statue of Liberty and Great Wall of China

The Brothers Brick:

 

DC Universe Gets a Live-Action DOOM PATROL Series

Coming Soon:

Doom Patrol is a re-imagining of one of DC’s most beloved group of outcast Super Heroes: Robotman, Negative Man, Elasti-Girl, and Crazy Jane, led by modern-day mad scientist Dr. Niles Caulder (The Chief). The Doom Patrol’s members each suffered horrible accidents that gave them superhuman abilities — but also left them scarred and disfigured. Traumatized and downtrodden, the team found purpose through The Chief, who brought them together to investigate the weirdest phenomena in existence — and to protect Earth from what they find. This does make me wonder if this - and in turn, Titans - will tie into the existing “Berlanti-verse” of Arrow, Supergirl, etc., etc.

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY Gets A Teaser Trailer!

[embed]www.youtube.com/watch

I know there’s been a lot of debate and discussion already about how Bohemian Rhapsody is kind of a white-washed, squeaky clean version of Freddie Mercury’s story, but it doesn’t change that this looks pretty darn good.

I’ll be there in November.

NETFLIX Picks Up Guillermo del Toro's 10 AFTER MIDNIGHT Series

The Hollywood Reporter:

The streaming giant has handed out a straight-to-series order for Guillermo Del Toro’s 10 After Midnight, an individual episodic horror anthology from the Oscar winner behind The Shape of Water. An episode count and premiere date for the drama remain unclear.

Each installment of 10 After Midnight will be personally curated by Del Toro, with stories described as equally sophisticated and horrific. Del Toro, who created the series, will bring his visionary style as a writer and director to certain episodes. He’ll also hand-pick a team of what Netflix describes as the genre’s best writers and new filmmakers to bring his selection of stories to life. Additional details about various topics and stories are being kept under wraps. Holy crap, I am so there for this. The $11 a month I pay Netflix really pays off in so many ways.

Margot Kidder Passes Away, Age 69

Variety:

HARVEY BIRDMAN: ATTORNEY GENERAL Special to Hit Adult Swim This Fall

Collider:

Looking forward to it. Glad to see everyone’s back VO wise, too.

Netflix's LOST IN SPACE Gets Season 2

Variety:

Is this a similar trend for you? You have a LOT of shows you want to watch, but only a few you actually get through?

Between movies to see, video games to play, books/comics to read, albums to listen to, podcasts to enjoy, shows to watch…I almost feel like there’s too much to enjoy at any given time lately.

Maybe this is what getting old is.

RUMOR: Is a STAR FOX Racing Game In Development for the Nintendo Switch?

Eurogamer:

The leaks appeared online over the weekend on reddit and 4chan, and were then reported this morning on multiple gaming sites and blogs.

So, what do we believe? Well, as improbable as Retro making a Star Fox racing spin-off may sound, Eurogamer sources have heard similar. I am skeptical, but we are in E3 season, and it’s been 2 years since the last Star Fox game…

BROOKLYN NINE-NINE Saved By NBC

Chances are, you already heard this over the weekend, but just in case if not…

Deadline:

NBC, whose sister studio Universal TV produces the Andy Samberg-starring series, was one of the potential suitors for the comedy after its cancellation. NBC also was among the broadcast networks that bid for the Brooklyn Nine-Nine pitch from creators Mike Schur and Dan Goor when it hit the marketplace in 2012 before the project landed at Fox in a very competitive situation.

“Ever since we sold this show to Fox I’ve regretted letting it get away, and it’s high time it came back to its rightful home,“ said Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment. “Mike Schur, Dan Goor, and Andy Samberg grew up on NBC and we’re all thrilled that one of the smartest, funniest, and best cast comedies in a long time will take its place in our comedy line-up. I speak for everyone at NBC, here’s to the Nine-Nine!“ NINE-NINE.

GI JOE's SNAKE-EYES To Get A Solo Film

The Hollywood Reporter:

Paramount Pictures has thrown a Joe spinoff movie featuring the commando into development, with Evan Spiliotopoulos, the writer of Beauty and the Beast and The Huntsman: Winter’s War, in talks to pen the script. If they’re not sure what to do for the film, just adapt the kick-ass Snake-Eyes Trilogy I read as a kid!

Alternatively, just give us a LOT more of RZA rambling on as Snake-Eyes’s blind master.

I don’t even care if this isn’t supposed to follow up from Retaliation - MORE RZA.

More Details on the Return of KB Toys

TFW2005:

— 300-400 KB pop up stores will open during the 2018-19 holiday season as a quick way to test each market, while the best performing of those pop ups will be reviewed in early 2019 for potential expansion to one of the larger permanent 600-800 stores.

— Simon is among the many mall organizations that replied with interest to Kassoff s LinkedIn post and are now aboard as investors; banks, outside investors and private equity are not involved in this version of KB Toys.

— Of special interest to collector communities, a dedicated “Toy Nerd" in each store will help buyers with in-store hot off the delivery truck purchases, along with events like meet and greet autograph sessions with toy designers. The “Toy Nerd” role is really clever. I hope this works out!

Detective JJ Bittenbinder Speaks Out On John Mulaney's KID GORGEOUS Special

The Chicago Tribune:

“I never wore my cowboy hat to the schools. Now, I have been on cattle drives. I did 11 cattle drives and 11 cattle roundups in a ranch outside of Cody, Wyo., but that’s a separate deal. You don’t wear a three-piece suit with a cowboy hat. That just doesn’t work. Doesn’t look good,“ Bittenbinder told the Tribune by phone from Wisconsin, where he is enjoying his retirement.

Bittenbinder, 75, was surprised to learn from the Tribune that Chicago native John Mulaney parodies him in his new Netflix stand-up comedy special “Kid Gorgeous at Radio City.“ Mulaney devotes about 10 minutes of his hourlong set at Radio City Music Hall to explaining how Bittenbinder’s “street smarts" presentations at student assemblies “haunt me to this day.“ If you haven’t seen Mulaney’s latest Netflix special, you really should - it’s a gem. And few gems shine brighter than his entire segment on Bittenbinder and his Street Smarts program.

And Detective, we’ve got YouTube footage…John ain’t that far off on ya.

www.youtube.com/watch

FOX Cancels BROOKLYN NINE-NINE, But Not All Hope May Be Lost

The Hollywood Reporter:

Brooklyn Nine-Nine | While not a ratings breakout, the Andy Samberg cop comedy from exec producers Dan Goor and Mike Schur remains a critical favorite. Sources note the series went into its current fifth season with an eye toward an endgame. That the single-camera comedy is produced by an outside studio — Universal Television — did not help the series, which will not return for a sixth season. This was an absolute heartbreaker last night. Brooklyn Nine-Nine is one of the funniest, most diverse, most genuine, most consistently delightful shows on television, a true beacon of joy, and to see it wrap up - even with five seasons under its belt, and a TBS syndication deal which most likely means that we’ll see reruns for years to come - is a real punch to the gut.

But - for all of us saddened by this news - hope may not be lost.

Let’s let Deadline share the good news:

Hulu, Brooklyn Nine-Nines SVOD home, is considered the most likely choice, and I hear there had been conversations about the show moving there.

Another potential home for Brooklyn Nine-Nine could be TBS, which in December picked up off-network rights to the comedy. The basic cable network is overseen by Kevin Reilly, who had developed and picked up Brooklyn Nine-Nine while running Fox and is a big fan of the show. BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE! What’s that you say, The Hollywood Reporter?!

NINE-NINE!

RICK and MORTY Gets Picked Up For SEVENTY More Episodes

Fresh from Twitter:

twitter.com/JustinRoi…

Full admission, I’ve been late to the Rick and Morty train. I haven’t even seen the third season yet.

But knowing that this is basically a seven season pickup is absolutely insane and wonderful. I guess this makes Rick and Morty the South Park of [adult swim].

Congrats to Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland. Can’t wait to see where this goes.

Nine Inch Nails Announce New EP and A New Way To Combat Ticket Scalpers

So, Nine Inch Nails made some moves today.

First things first, they’ve got a new EP coming out in June, the third in a trilogy called “Bad Witch”.

You can pre-order it here. Here’s the track list:

From the tour announcement page, in - for some reason - all caps:

THE PREDATOR Gets A Teaser Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

Not a lot of there there, is there?

I’m in because I love Shane Black. But this teaser trailer is really an emphasis on the tease.

Going to be surreal to see the Predator in more of a suburban environment, though!

Annette Bening Joins the CAPTAIN MARVEL Cast

The Hollywood Reporter:

The four-time Oscar nominee is joining Brie Larson in Captain Marvel, Marvel Studios’ first female-led feature film. Oh, cool! Adds to the “Prestige Actor in Marvel Studios” hall, alongside Glenn Close, Michael Douglas and Robert Redford. But who is she playing?

Apple To Sell Video App Subscriptions Through TV App

Bloomberg:

For the first time, Apple plans to begin selling subscriptions to certain video services directly via its TV app, rather than asking users to subscribe to them through apps individually downloaded from the App Store, according to people familiar with the matter. Makes sense - surprised this hasn’t happened sooner. Plus, if it means one less app to download, I think we’d all be glad for it.

Kratos Tells Dad Jokes

www.youtube.com/watch

Well played, Polygon. Well played.

Deadpool Says 'Please Don't Spoil DEADPOOL 2'

We’re just over a week away from the debut of Deadpool 2, and with that, spoilers are sure to leak any day now.

In turn, Ryan Reynolds (or Deadpool) took to Twitter to request this:

twitter.com/VancityRe…

Clever spoof of the Russo Brothers' similar ask for Avengers: Infinity War.

Nintendo Announces Adjustable Charging Stand for the Switch

Nintendo:

For just $20, I’m definitely considering it.

Andy Daly Is Reed Newport: '80s Game Show Host, From Last Night's CONAN

www.youtube.com/watch

Goddamn I love Andy Daly.

Jordan Peele Reveals His Next Film - US

Last night on Twitter, Jordan Peele officially started the hype machine for his Get Out follow up…

twitter.com/JordanPee…

So here’s what we know.

The movie is called Us. It hits March 2019.

And thanks to The Hollywood Reporter

Details are being kept deep in suburbia, but the pic is said to center on two couples, one white, one black. If a deal is made, Duke and Nyong’o would play one couple, while Moss would play part of the other couple. Sounds great. Love all three, and much like Get Out, think this is a great cast list to build on. I cannot wait to see what he has planned next.

BILL & TED 3 (BILL & TED FACE THE MUSIC) Is Officially in Pre-Production

Coming Soon:

Following Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey, original creators Chris Matheson (Imagine That) and Ed Solomon (Men in Black, Mosaic, Now You See Me) have penned the script, with Dean Parisot (Galaxy Quest, Red 2, Fun with Dick and Jane) confirmed to direct. Scott Kroopf (Limitless) will produce together with Alex Lebovici and Steve Ponce of Hammerstone Studios, with Steven Soderbergh serving as an executive producer alongside Scott Fischer, John Ryan Jr., and John Santilli. Surreal.

For those unawares, here’s the plot of the third movie:

LAIKA Officially Announces Its Fifth Film - MISSING LINK

/Film:

Nintendo Reveals More Details for Switch Online Service, Launching September 2018

Really great new page breaking down all the details of the Switch Online Service hitting this September.

While I know a lot of people are going to be excited about the NES Online Library, I’m most excited to see the Cloud Backup of game saves. This could be very important if your system breaks, is stolen, or - knowing Nintendo - they release a new model with superior innards or a cooler exterior look.

I’m in for the Family plan. (My wife plays, too.)

#FastFoodArmsRace: Taco Bell Unveils 'Wilder' Naked Chicken Chalupa

Brand Eating:

The chain describes the new, spicy sauce as being “bold” and “smoky.” Other than the new sauce, the Wilder Naked Chicken Chalupa includes the same components as the regular Naked Chicken Chalupa, a seasoned and marinated crispy-fried chicken shell filled with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded cheddar cheese, and avocado ranch sauce. Sounds…uh, delicious?

SHERLOCK HOLMES 3 Set For Christmas 2020

Collider:

Btw, is it surreal for anyone else that 2020 is a real, not-that-far-off year?

Nintendo Switch Year 2: A Focus on the 'Non-Gamer'

Ars Technica:

“In this second year, the initiatives we are planning come from our recognition that we also have to challenge ourselves to delivering Nintendo Switch into the hands of consumers who have never played a Nintendo platform before, and to those [who] have played before, but not recently,” Kimishima said. Those “initiatives” include a software lineup “meant to attract people including those who have not been playing video games recently,” he continued. Sounds like Nintendo Labo was just the beginning. E3 should be interesting.

Vox: 'MoviePass: Why It's The Future - Even If It Doesn't Survive'

Vox:

MoviePass may survive. Or its business model may, in the end, be unsustainable. But on a broader scale, the more interesting story may be the way MoviePass alters how people go to the movies — and what that means for an industry that is struggling to survive. Really enjoyed this piece by Alissa Wilkinson, examining how even if MoviePass may burn out and fade away, it will have changed the world of moviegoing - and in many ways, for the better.

I guess it’s sort of a Napster, and we’re waiting for the film industry version of Spotify.

SURPRISE! ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT Season 5 Hits May 29th

www.youtube.com/watch

IT’S A CINCO DE QUATRO MIRACLE. JUST THREE DAYS LATE.

Sure hope this is good. Way to keep things quiet, Netflix.

LUKE CAGE Season 2 Trailer Arrives

www.youtube.com/watch

I really need to finish the first season of Luke Cage.

And watch all of Iron Fist. And The Defenders. And Punisher. And the second season of Jessica Jones.

Peak TV is kicking my ass.

Back CINEPHILE, A Cool New Stylish Movie-Themed Card Game on Kickstarter

Kickstarter:

I’m Cory Everett and when I was six years old, my dad took me to see Robocop. It was all downhill from there. When I was 21, I was on the short-lived IFC show Ultimate Film Fanatic (I lost). I’ve also written about film at Indiewire and elsewhere. And for the past 15 years or so, I’ve spent road trips, days at the beach and other time-to-kill situations prompting friends, family, and co-workers with three words:

“Gimme two actors.“

It started as a variation on the Kevin Bacon game, except you pick any two actors and try to connect them in six movies or less. We can sometimes spend hours doing this. We also play another game where you name a movie star, then go around naming their films until someone is stumped. It sounds simple but there is a strategy involved.

So after playing other movie games and being underwhelmed, I thought it might be time to bring mine to life. With the help of my friend, illustrator Steve Isaacs, I created Cinephile: A Card Game. Yeah, I foresee the Super Art Fight roster and I playing this game a LOT in the future. In for the game and the expansion.

Sinema Lowers Prices: Begun, The MoviePass Wars Have

TechCrunch:

FX Picks Up WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS Series

Vulture:

UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT To End After Season 4

Deadline:

I really enjoyed the first two seasons of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, but the third didn’t grab me as much. Hopefully the series gets to end strong.

A Public Radio Consortium Acquires Pocket Casts

The Verge:

My biggest concern now is that the app becomes a data mining resource for NPR.

Mondo Releases Two New Mike Mitchell Portraits for May the Fourth!

Mondo:

Speaking of Star Wars day, Solo tickets went on sale today too.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Applebee's Brings The Pain Internationally with the 'Cheetos Burger Bomb'

Chew Boom:

The Cheetos Burger Bomb features the brand’s Bacon Cheeseburger coated in a Cheetos tempura batter, deep-fried until golden brown and topped with Cheetos dust. The Burger Bomb is served with a side of curly fries, coleslaw and Cheetos aioli. The life expectancy within the UAE just dropped.

CONAN to Shift to Half-Hour Format in 2019

IndieWire:

Turner and O’Brien on Thursday morning announced an “expanded partnership spanning television, digital, social and live events that will enable the late night icon to capitalize and interact with his multi-generational fan base across platforms.“ That includes the decision to revamp “Conan,“ which will still air four nights a week. It has aired as an hour since launching on TBS in 2010. Very interesting to see Conan O’Brien go to where the puck is going, as opposed to what it is, and focusing on digital formats, and keeping the show fresh.

Buried further down, however, is the most exciting part to me as a comedy nerd:

JONESY, The Beloved Cat From ALIEN Finally Gets To Tell His Story

Bloody Disgusting:

But did you ever wonder how Jonesy perceived the events of Alien?!

Author Rory Lucey presents that story in the upcoming Jonesy: Nine Lives on the Nostromo, a full-color, illustrated book that offers a cat’s eye view of all the terror! This book is currently available for pre-order on Amazon, and hits shelves October 16th. Looks adorable.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Einstein Bros Says 'What If Mac & Cheese, But A Bagel?'

Chew Boom:

The new Mac & Cheese Gourmet Bagel takes the chain’s potato bagel and crowns it with Annie’s Organic Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese, plus a blend of six melty cheeses and a slice of cheddar cheese. Mother of God.

DEADPOOL 2 Gets the Celine Dion Ballad It Deserves

www.youtube.com/watch

Well played, everyone. Well played.

New ROBIN HOOD Teaser Trailer Promises YET ANOTHER Interpretation of the Classic Hero

www.youtube.com/watch

Yep. That’s certainly a version of Robin Hood they’re doing here.

Sounds like you crickets are into it.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Trolli Releases DEADPOOL Gummy Tiny Hands

Collider:

 

MoviePass Continues to Throw Crap at the Wall, See What Sticks

Wired:

That wasn’t always a given. Just last week at industry conference CinemaCon, Lowe said “I don’t know" in response to a question about the unlimited plan’s return. And given some of MoviePass' previous experimentation with its offerings—be it temporarily removing subscriber access to select AMC theaters in major cities, or to specific movies—it perhaps wouldn’t have been surprising if the offer that attracted millions of subscribers in a few short months really was too good to be true.

As of today, though, you can get back on the unlimited plan that MoviePass launched last August. You also still have the option of the plan the company temporarily replaced it with: four movies a month, plus three free months of iHeartRadio All-Access music streaming. One of the best deals around has returned—along with a seemingly renewed commitment from MoviePass not to keep its subscribers’ heads spinning. And noted further down in the article:

I want MoviePass to succeed. I’m not sure that the current leadership will allow them to.

The 3rd Trailer for RED DEAD REDEMPTION 2 Is Here

www.youtube.com/watch

Excited? Hits October 26th.

New CASTLE ROCK Trailer Reveals Hulu's Stephen King Series Release Date

www.youtube.com/watch

July 25th, 2018 for this mashup of all of the Stephen King books in one crazy TV series.

Looks to be a good one for Hulu, who continues to develop into a powerhouse of original series.

Atari Announces Pre-Sale Details for ATARI VCS

Atari Press Release:

Image Comics' DEATH OR GLORY Grabs My Eye

Newsarama:

Bengal opened up to Newsarama about his influences for Glory’s looks, material that helped fuel the high-octane action that follows her through this adventure, as well as how he feels he’s bettered himself as an artist since his first series all the way back in 2001. Standard pre-release interview, but goddamn does this book look gorgeous.

Classic MEGA MAN Games Getting a Limited Edition Cartridge Re-Release

Engadget:

Each cartridge costs $100 is available in one of two colours, opaque light blue or translucent glow-in-the-dark blue (although which you’ll get is a surprise). They’re not just collector’s items either, as both are fully playable. Pre-order on iam8bit.com now for shipping in September, but be quick, each game is restricted to a run of just 8,500 units. They can be bought here.

The part I find most amusing is that you’ll only know what color cartridge you received is by opening the box, and most people who buy these games probably won’t be opening the boxes.

The first trailer arrives, as TEEN TITANS GO! TO THE MOVIES!

www.youtube.com/watch

Having watched a lot of Teen Titans GO! lately, between hotel room stays and watching my niece, the series has really grown on me.

The movie looks just as funny and clever. I wouldn’t be surprised if this shocks the box office this Summer.

(And yes, that’s Nicholas Cage playing Superman. Finally.)

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT Season 5 'Coming Soon', Season 4 'Remix' Hits Friday

Straight from Twitter:

twitter.com/arrestedd…

TL;DR version: Mitch Hurwitz has confirmed that a fifth season of Arrested Development is coming soon, and on this Friday, “Cinco De Quatro”, the much debated Netflix season will be released in a new chronological edit, attempting to resolve/fix the issues of the character based episodes seen in the original release.

New Trailer for ANT-MAN AND THE WASP

www.youtube.com/watch

This looks REALLY fun.

Hasbro Purchases POWER RANGERS (Among Other Brands)

Hasbro Press Release:

Expect the big Transformers, GI Joe, MASK, Power Rangers mashup to hit theaters in the next ten years.

One Time Rivals, The Rock Gets John Cena the Leading Role in THE JANSON DIRECTIVE

For wrestling nerds, this news is really surreal.

The Rock’s production company has signed John Cena to star as the lead in The Janson Directive, a not-quite-Jason-Bourne story by Bourne author Robert Ludlum.

As is the way these days, Dwayne Johnson took to announcing it on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiNWmX_liin/?utm_source=ig_embed

John Woo Sets THE KILLER Remake With Lupita Nyong'o, Brings His Next Movie To Netflix!

Deadline:

Also, in what can’t be a coincidence, Netflix released the trailer to Manhunt yesterday, John Woo’s big return to action. It hits Netflix this Friday. Looks crazy, def worth a spin.

www.youtube.com/watch

80's Sitcom Legacy is Saved - Presenting THE KROMSBY SHOW

www.youtube.com/watch

Brilliant. We should do this with all the awful people.

Avengers: Infinity War (2018): A Review

There was an idea… called the Avengers Initiative. The idea was to bring together a group of of remarkable people to see if they could become something more. To see if they could work together when we needed them to, to fight the battles that we never could.

In 2008, Iron Man arrived. A risky choice for hero. A risky choice for lead. A risky choice for director. And as the credits rolled, a surprise was in store for all. This was the beginning of something greater.

A decade later, that promise has been fulfilled on a scale heretofore unseen with the release of Avengers: Infinity War.

If you’re a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to date - let’s be honest, you don’t need to read this review. You’re going to see the movie. You probably already have. And if you have, you’re probably already planning to see it again.

But for those fence sitters, those opinion waiters, those unsure - with the odds stacked against it, with the difficulty level set to high, the Russo Brothers and Marvel Studios did it. Full stop. A complete success.

The culmination of the stories throughout the nineteen film saga, Infinity War finally brings uber-villian Thanos (Josh Brolin) to Earth, as he assembles the last of the infinity stones, the powerful macguffins controlling Space, Mind, Reality, Power, Time and Soul. But his villainy is perhaps altruistic? In a shift from the character’s comics focus - to impress the living embodiment of Death - Thanos feels the universe is overpopulated, and needs a cleansing. His goal? Wipe out half of existence within the universe, full stop.

It’s heady, heavy material for the normally jokey Marvel Universe - and while the quips are there (there is tremendous character interaction in this film, all the pairings you want to see, and some pairings you’ll be surprised work as well as they do) - the movie is, frankly, bleak at times. No punches are pulled - this is a gutsy, ballsy choice from the normally risk-adverse MCU. Avengers: Infinity War isn’t necessarily a movie for the whole family - I can see kids getting absolutely warped by some of this (in a Bambi’s Mom sort of way).

But the important part is this - the landing is stuck. The action is epic, the scope is incredible. Some way, some how, the movie is balanced, extending the stories of (almost all) of your favorite heroes. And in the end, when the smoke clears, you will be drained and absolutely blown away.

All eyes will then move to May 2019. An almost insane year long wait for the next chapter - you will be chomping at the bit to know what happens next.

What will the future hold for the Avengers? I’m not sure - but in this present day, their greatest adventure is on the silver screen, and I cannot wait to see it again and again.

Avengers: Infinity War is in theaters now (grab tickets via Fandango!), and yes, is already available for pre-order on iTunes.

Find yourself reading NANCY lately? You're not the only one.

The New York Times:

The first strip drawn by Ms. Jaimes, on April 9, featured an unnamed woman commenting on Nancy’s diet, which for that meal consisted of a slice of pie, a cupcake, cornbread, some salt and a stick of butter. Since then, Nancy has referenced earbuds, video games, Snapchat filters, apps, anonymous bots and social media anxiety. That mix is in step with Ms. Jaimes’s goals for the strip. I think it’s really cool to see a company allow for a long-running comics strip to be changed so heavily.

Now, the question is - “Olivia Jaimes”, is she someone of note? Or just someone cleverly using a pseudonym?

LAIKA Preps Their Next Film, Tentatively Titled FILM FIVE

Collider:

Though it doesn’t yet have a title, the presumably original story for “Film Five" is described briefly as follows: “Bursting with humor, heart, and a profound message of acceptance and finding one’s place, the animation team at LAIKA is thrilled to be bringing this globetrotting comedy-adventure to life.“ Chris Butler (ParaNorman) directs a voice cast led by Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana and Zach Galifianakis. The film was previously announced as having a May 18, 2018 release date, but no follow-up date has been announced just yet. Based on that track record, I’ll watch anything LAIKA creates.

Cool to see Annapurna pick them up, too.

Nickelodeon to Revive DOUBLE DARE This Summer

Collider:

If not him…well, I have some experience hosting ridiculous, silly game show type events.

IRON SPIDER Costume Coming To SPIDER-MAN on PlayStation 4

PlayStation.Blog:

When we announced the release date, we revealed our pre-order bonus, which includes a Spidey Suit pack containing three suits. But we only showed one suit — Spider-Punk — with the other two being held back to be unveiled later.

Here’s an updated look at the pre-order video, with the second suit revealed:

www.youtube.com/watch

Dope!

Didn't Like Amazon Delivering Things In Your Door? What About In Your Car?

The Verge:

Amazon announced today a new service that gives its couriers access to a person’s vehicle for the purpose of leaving package deliveries inside. But rather than use smart locks and a cloud-connected camera to gain entry, Amazon wants to use the connected technologies embedded in many modern vehicles today. The company is launching this new service in partnership with two major automakers — General Motors and Volvo — and will be rolling out in 37 cities in the US starting today.

This feels really, very creepy. I’m not into it.

See VENOM In All His Glory, In The New VENOM Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

The first trailer: Felt like The Bourne Identity.

This trailer: Feels like the 1990’s Spawn adaptation.

This is going to be real, real weird to watch.

A new poster for the movie arrived, too!

Netflix Fires Up An Animated FAST & FURIOUS Series

Collider:

While Dom and the gang are keeping busy on the big screen, the Fast & Furious family is about to get a bit bigger in the animated realm. The new series will follow Dom’s cousin — no, not Fernando from Fast 8, but a teenager named Tony Torretto who follow’s in Dom’s footsteps when he and his friends are recruited by a government agency to infiltrate an elit racing league to help bring down a crime organization hellbent on world domination — and to think this all started with stealing some home entertainment equipment in Los Angeles.

I need this to be as ridiculously 90’s as possible.

Give me a talking dog sidekick. Make the cars robots. Turn Tony’s team into a Burger King Kids Club of drift racing.

Lets make this as completely ridiculous as possible, and give us ALL the toys.

Valve Acquires Campo Santo, Makers of FIREWATCH

Campo Santo Blog:

If you’re the type of person who gives two flips about this news, we can elaborate a little bit on this big decision. First, we really like making video games. Furthermore, and perhaps more accurately, we really like making and producing entertainment. From the day-to-day production of our last game, Firewatch, to the way we run the company, make merchandise, meet players at expos and shows, send out a quarterly literary journal, throw open-to-the-public game demos in the middle of an artificial forest—all of it is geared towards surprising, delighting, and entertaining the customers who have shared in our success.

I loved Firewatch. I’m really looking forward to In the Valley of the Gods. I’m pretty sure that Valve will just let Campo Santo make their projects the way they want and leave them be, without having to worry as much about the financial component.

Win-win-win.

New Netflix Anime Series, AGGRETSUKO

www.youtube.com/watch

Why am I sharing this?

Because - when you think about it - we’re all office worker red pandas who long to sing death metal at karaoke at night.

Universal FanCon 'Indefinitely Postponed' A Week Before The Show

The Beat:

So, uh - I, along with Super Art Fight, were scheduled to be guests at this show.

For whatever it’s worth, we haven’t had anything communicated directly to us yet. In turn, I’ll wait and see how they handle this.

But right now, so far…people are very confused, sad and angry. And the communication from the convention…or lack thereof…isn’t helping.

Shame - they had a great mission and focus.

ASH VS. EVIL DEAD Canceled After 3 Seasons

The Wrap:

The upcoming season 3 finale, set to air Sunday, April 29, will now serve as the series finale.

Bummer. While I’ve yet to see the series myself - I don’t have a Starz subscription - everything I’ve heard is that it was incredibly faithful to the films which came before it.

Baltimore Magazine Covers...The Hot Dog Race

Baltimore Magazine:

One of three condiments that competes in an animated video after the second inning of every Orioles home game, mustard has yet to cross the finish line before ketchup or relish in 2018.

Always entertaining, the Hot Dog Race is the best game being played in Camden Yards this season.

Glad to see this video screen favorite getting some love.

Netflix Embraces The Scourge of Vertical Video

Variety:

The 30-second mobile previews are presented in a slideshow format with circular thumbnails, very much like the presentation of Snapchat and Instagram Stories. As with the popular “stories" video format, users can tap the screen to play the preview or swipe to advance to the next preview. If you see something you like, you can add it to your watchlist directly from the video screen.

The mobile previews are available starting Thursday in Netflix’s iOS app, and will be “coming soon to Android,“ the company said.

The point? It’s another addition to Netflix’s content-discovery toolkit, designed to suck viewers into the Netflix programming catalog. Astutely, Netflix is adopting the concept of swipe-able, vertical videos, which presumably many people already know how to interact with.

Goddamnit.

I recognize I’m going full “Old Man Yells At Cloud” here, but seriously gang - taking horizontal content and reformatting it to a vertical format for engagement and discovery purposes sure is frustrating. At least when you go to watch the content, it’s as intended, but…for how long?

It’s almost as egregious as HBO using the wrong aspect ratio to “fill your screen”.

We can do better, guys. Original format or nothing.

Jesse Plemons Joins Disney's JUNGLE CRUISE

Variety:

Plemons will play one of the film’s villains. As previously announced, Edgar Ramirez and Jack Whitehall are also on board.

Jaume Collet-Serra is directing the movie based on the classic theme park attraction, which operates in several Disney Parks across the globe and takes guests on a guided tour through the rivers of the world. Michael Green (“Logan") penned the most recent draft of the script, rewritten from screenplay by J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay.

The Rock has faced many adversaries in his career…but can he defeat FATT DAMON?!

Trailer for Netflix Debate Team Comedy, CANDY JAR

youtu.be/1lXLGwe_D…

I didn’t think a movie about a debate team would be interesting, but yet, here I am.

Hits Netflix next week!

Guillermo del Toro Signs Deal With DreamWorks Animation

Coming Soon:

The announcement was made by DreamWorks Animation (DWA) President Chris deFaria, who indicated the deal could extend beyond movies and television, including working with DWA’s artists and technologists on some of their pilot programs that are developing groundbreaking techniques for advancing storytelling on various content platforms.

As part of the deal, Del Toro is taking offices at the DreamWorks campus in Glendale, California. The Oscar-winning director says that animation “is an art form that has influenced my work greatly since childhood. To me, it’s the perfect medium to bring to life any and all ideas, no matter how outlandish or wild. I am eager to work with Chris and the talented artists at DreamWorks — some of the most talented people in the business — to make these images a reality. I have worked with DreamWorks for about a decade and the horizon just keeps getting wider.

Always game for more unique creations from this wonderful mind.

Google To Fix Android Messaging. Again.

The Verge:

It’s a problem. In fact, it’s always been a problem. Google has spent nearly a decade trying — and failing — to fix it with an ever-rotating cast of poorly supported apps. While iPhone users have had the simplicity of iMessage built in, Android users have been left to fend for themselves.

Now, the company is doing something different. Instead of bringing a better app to the table, it’s trying to change the rules of the texting game, on a global scale. Google has been quietly corralling every major cellphone carrier on the planet into adopting technology to replace SMS. It’s going to be called “Chat,“ and it’s based on a standard called the “Universal Profile for Rich Communication Services.“ SMS is the default that everybody has to fall back to, and so Google’s goal is to make that default texting experience on an Android phone as good as other modern messaging apps.

For some reason, I’m reminded of this XKCD strip.

HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE Film Has New Directors

Variety:

Escape Artists’ Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, and Steve Tisch will produce with DeVon Franklin.

The movie will be based on the beloved Mattel toyline, which spawned a successful animated TV series (1983-85) as well as a 1987 film. The property centers on the warrior He-Man, the last hope of a magical land called Eternia. Dolph Lundgren starred in the original pic as the title character, while Frank Langella played the villainous Skeletor.

The pic is written by David Goyer, who is also an executive producer. Goyer had circled the director’s chair, but prior engagements forced him to pass on directing, though insiders say he is extremely involved in the development of the film.

Never seen their work, but I guess this movie really is going to happen.

KINGSMAN's Taron Egerton To Play Elton John in ROCKETMAN

Deadline:

Does this movie continue the Kingsman universe?

F. Gary Gray to Direct M.A.S.K. Film For Hasbro/Paramount

Deadline:

So, it’s Occupy: MASK? Interesting take…

But hey, a guy who oversaw The Fate of the Furious is probably the perfect fit for a driving-action series.

Amazon Picks Up US Adaptation of UTOPIA, Written by Gillian Flynn

Variety:

In addition, series creator Gillian Flynn has inked an overall deal with Amazon Studios, with “Utopia" being the first project under that deal. Based on the British series of the same name created by Dennis Kelly, “Utopia" follows group of young adults who meet online and are mercilessly hunted by a shadowy deep state organization after they come in to possession of a near mythical cult underground graphic novel. They discover the conspiracy theories in the comic’s pages may actually be real and are forced in to the dangerous, unique and ironic position of saving the world.

Amazon has ordered a nine-episode first season. The original series aired two six-episode seasons on Britain’s Channel 4 between 2013 and 2014.

Second time’s the charm, one hopes. Shame that David Fincher won’t be involved with this attempt, but I’m looking forward to it just the same.

The FINAL TRAILER for DEADPOOL 2

www.youtube.com/watch

Yeah, this is going to make heaps of money.

Behold, The FINAL TRAILER for JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM

www.youtube.com/watch

The first trailer didn’t do anything for me.

The Super Bowl trailer - I kinda liked that one.

This one though, I think I’m digging it more….whatcha think?

Amazon & Best Buy Form An Unholy Union

Engadget:

THE BLOODRIGHT HAS BEEN CLAIMED

A SACRIFICE MUST BE MADE

THE DARKCHYLDE WILL RISE

ALL WILL SUFFER

Steven Spielberg To Tackle BLACKHAWK for WB/DC

The Hollywood Reporter:

The iconic filmmaker is tackling his first DC Comics property, the World War II action-adventure hero Blackhawk.

Spielberg, along with his Amblin Entertainment, will produce Blackhawk for Warner Bros., and is developing it as a directing vehicle, the studio announced Tuesday. The move reteams him with the studio behind his latest tentpole, Ready Player One.

David Koepp, who has worked with Spielberg writing the blockbusters Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, is penning the script.

Another HUGE get for Warner Bros. Wonder what Disney’s thinking.

Also, I do like the idea of DC focusing on some of the more obscure corners of their universe. Just avoids the baggage of what has come along so far.

WB/DC Moving Forward With HARLEY QUINN/BIRDS OF PREY Movie

Deadline:

This is a bold bet for Warner Bros’ Geoff Johns and Walter Hamada, who oversee DC under Toby Emmerich. Yan got the job over numerous well established male directors, and because she is taking this giant leap with just one small-budget indie movie under her belt. That would be Dead Pigs, a film that won the World Cinema Dramatic Award For Ensemble Acting at Sundance last January. Despite being a new talent, Yan’s presentation for Birds of Prey was exceptional, and Robbie held firm to her desire for this film to be directed by a woman.

Robbie’s LuckyChap is producing with Sue Kroll and her Kroll & Co Entertainment and Bryan Unkeless of Clubhouse Pictures. Robbie and Unkeless produced I, Tonya.

I have to say, the “Phase 2” DCEU is looking way, way better…this, Wonder Woman 2, the New Gods movie from Ava DuVernay…

Props to Margot Robbie getting the producer role, too.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Heinz Is That Kid In The Lunch Room, Combines Ketchup and Mayo

Chew Boom:

Heinz Mayochup is a pre-made blend of the brand’s mayonnaise and ketchup, and according to Heinz, more than 500,000 fans voted in favour of bringing the saucy mashup stateside.

Mr. Show proving prescient here.

All I can think of now is how my High School lunch room used to have these top-down squeeze dispensers of Ketchup, Mustard and Mayonnaise, and how on a pretty much weekly basis, someone would hulk-out, pull them too hard, and cause a horrible mixture of condiments to flood the cafeteria floor.

So, it’s that! But in a bottle! For $3!

#FastFoodArmsRace: Dominos Japan Gets Sloppy, Calls It A Promotion

Brand Eating:

The Ultra-Topping Cheese Pizza features four times the mozzarella of the chain’s regular pizzas which basically makes it look more like a plate of cheese than pizza.

It’s joined by the Ultra-Topping Pepperoni Pizza and the Ultra-Topping Mayo Jaga Pizza. Like the cheese version, each of the pizzas includes four times the normal amount of its namesake topping. If you’re wondering what Mayo Jaga is, it’s a topping combination of mayo, corn, cheese, potato, pork sausage, and parsley flakes.

No thanks, Japan. I’m good here.

OCEAN'S 8 Trailer Exudes Style

www.youtube.com/watch

Looks stylish, fun, enjoyable. Which is all the Ocean’s movies need to be. See you in the Summer.

THE INCREDIBLES II Trailer Is Everything You Want It To Be

www.youtube.com/watch

Over the past few days, I’ve been down for the count with a stomach bug.

I truly believe that this trailer for The Incredibles II sped up my recovery.

This looks to be the sequel we’ve all wanted these past…holy shit…FOURTEEN years.

The only jarring thing? Comparing how the characters look in this one versus how they did in the first.

To my minds eye, nothing has changed. But in reality…it’s quite a jump.

Looks Like Home Video is Saving BLADE RUNNER 2049

Indiewire:

According to the industry data and research outlet The Numbers, “2049" has pulled in an impressive $21 million and counting from home video sales just in 2018. The movie was released December 26, 2017 on DVD, followed by a Blu-ra release January 16, 2018. The home video gross is inching “2049" closer to matching its $300 budget. The total 2018 gross is split between $3.8 million worth of DVDs sold and nearly $18 million worth of Blu-ray copies.

With $21 million earned as of April 2018, “2049" is the third highest-grossing home video release of 2018, trailing only the horror blockbuster “It" and the family box office surprise “Wonder.“

Unloved in the cinema. Beloved by those who did see it. A second life on video.

Blade Runner 2049 is a sequel to the original in more ways than one.

Fox Searchlight Unveils ISLE OF DOG Toys!

/Film:

The dogs Chief (Bryan Cranston), Rex (Edward Norton), King (Bob Balaban), Boss (Bill Murray), and Duke (Jeff Goldblum) are rendered in immaculate detail, right down to the bristles of their hair and the embroidery on their tiny baseball jerseys. There’s also a pretty great action figure of Atari sporting his signature black eye and slingshot.

I’ve yet to see the film - which I’ve heard is pretty great, even given some of it’s insensitivities - but I think we can all agree that these toys are perfectly rendered and would make a great gift for the Wes Anderson fan in your life.

The Stan Lee Elder Abuse Story Goes Mainstream

The Hollywood Reporter:

It was one thing when the likes of Bleeding Cool were reporting it. ([1],[2],[3],[4])

Now we’ve got The Hollywood Reporter in the mix.

This looks real, real bad, gang.

Medicom's MAFEX Spider-Man Figure Could Be The Best Spider-Man Figure Ever

The Toyark:

This looks great. It’ll probably be $90, but it looks absolutely perfect.

If You Like Instagram Stories, Thank Mark Zuckerberg

In a lengthy - but really really good - Bloomberg profile on Instagram and the issues it’s having being a Facebook product, here’s a fun tidbit:

Krieger and Systrom refused to build look-alike functionality until Zuckerberg personally requested it, according to a person familiar with discussions. Zuckerberg worried that if Instagram didn’t do something to change its product, such as copy Snapchat, it risked missing out on an entire generation of users.

And now you know how that happened.

TJ Miller Arrested For Fake Bomb Threat

The Hollywood Reporter:

The former Silicon Valley star was arrested for allegedly “intentionally conveying to law enforcement false information about an explosive device on a train traveling to Connecticut,” according to a press release from the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut. Miller allegedly made the bomb threat on March 18.

According to authorities, the 36-year-old comedian and actor allegedly called 911 and told the dispatcher he was on an Amtrak Train traveling from Washington, D.C. toward Penn Station in New York City and that a female passenger “has a bomb in her bag.“

What the hell has happened to this guy?

WESTWORLD Season 2...Spoiled For All?

Yesterday on Reddit, the co-creators of Westworld, Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy made sort of a faustian deal with fans during an AMA:

https://www.reddit.com/r/westworld/comments/8aztn4/we_are_westworld_cocreatorsexecutive/dx330b3

1000 Upvotes, and we’d know all.

Here’s the video as promised.

www.youtube.com/watch

Cheeky bastards.

Jason Statham vs. A Giant Shark: This Is THE MEG!

www.youtube.com/watch

Look, from that headline, you know you’re either in or you’re out.

I’m absolutely in.

BATGIRL Movie Back on With New Writer

The Hollywood Reporter:

Two months after Joss Whedon left the Batgirl movie project, the studio is moving ahead on developing a new film project based on the DC Entertainment heroine.

Christina Hodson, who wrote the upcoming Transformers spinoff Bumblebee, has been tapped to pen a new script featuring Barbra Gordon, the daughter of Gotham City police commissioner James Gordon.

I’m assuming Hodson - unlike Whedon - actually has an idea for the story of the film.

(Seriously guys, just ape the Stewart/Fletcher/Tarr run.)

Apple Introduces Red iPhone 8 & 8 Plus

Apple Newsroom:

I love how these look, I just wish that these red models were available on day one of release.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Krispy Kreme Turns Cookie Brands Into Delicious Doughnuts

Chew Boom:

The new Nutter Butter Cookie Twist Doughnut features the brand’s Original Glazed Twist dipped in peanut butter icing, topped with Nutter Butter cookie pieces and drizzled with peanut butter icing.

The new Chips Ahoy! Cookie Doughnut features a kreme filled yeast shell doughnut dipped in chocolate icing and topped with a mini Chips Ahoy! cookie and even more crumbled Chips Ahoy! cookie pieces.

The new cookie-themed doughnuts join the brand’s existing fan-favorite Oreo Cookies and Kreme Doughnut, which consists of an unglazed yeast shell doughnut filled with Oreo Cookies and Kreme filling, dipped in dark chocolate icing, topped with Oreo cookie pieces and a white ’n glossy drizzle.

Yet if I were to eat a bag of Nutter Butters, Chips Ahoy or Oreos for breakfast, I’m the monster.

New SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY Trailer Looks...Good?

youtu.be/jPEYpryMp…

It really looks like Ron Howard stuck the landing on this one.

I feel like Alden Ehrenreich will remain the most divisive part, but he’s growing on me.

Fingers are crossed.

There’s a new poster, too!

Hey! I'm at PAX East This Weekend!

Hey folks,

You’re not getting your normal blast-o-rama. updates for the next few days as I am away with the Super Art Fight gang for the 2018 edition of PAX East, in Boston, MA.

This is our first time being a part of the massive video game convention, and I am just about as nervous as I am excited about playing there, hopefully making a splash, and showing that world why we’d be a great addition to that show.

Are you going to be at PAX East? Awesome. Here’s where you can see us.

Since I’ll be at a convention all weekend, blast-o-rama. will understandably be on the back burner for a few days, so hopefully, no major nerd news breaks.

If it does, well — I’ll guess I’ll yammer on about it on my Twitter account.

Either way, I’ll be back Monday. Talk at you soon, Internet.

Full Trailer for HBO's FAHRENHEIT 451 Hits The Web

www.youtube.com/watch

This looks good.

Damn good.

I’m there in May.

Female-Led HIGH FIDELITY TV Series In The Works for Disney's Streaming Platform

Deadline:

High Fidelity is one of my favorite books/movies of all time, so I’m really interested to see how this plays out.

It was always a part of my “sad bastard/just broke up” media list, but what I’ve found interesting is the point that you realize you’ve matured as an adult, is the moment you realize Rob isn’t someone to aspire to be, but actually a total asshole who lets his whole life be run by his obsessions, and chasing the next new thing.

It’s a weird thing to consider given the concept of this blog.

Anyway.

I think swapping the lead to be female is an interesting inversion of the original concept, and I’d love to see what’s done with her - including her sexual identity. I’ll keep an eye on this one for sure.

The Get Up Kids Return with "Maybe"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8nahxUxclk&amp;feature=youtu.be

From their new EP Kicker, releasing June 8, 2018 via Polyvinyl Records.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Dunkin' Donuts Is Testing...DONUT FRIES

Grub Street:

Welp, just in time for me to head to Boston for the weekend. YOLO and what not.

SPIDER-MAN Hits PS4 on September 7th!

PlayStation Blog:

Special editions and such are announced there as well - including, not surprisingly, unlockable skins for the Wall-Crawler.

I can’t wait!

Apple Gets Serious About AI, Hires Google's AI Lead

The New York Times:

Bad News, The ARMADA Adaptation Is Moving Forward

The Hollywood Reporter:

Dan Mazeau has been tapped to pen the script for Armada, Cline’s 2015 novel that told of a teen video game champion who discovers that the game he’s mastered was created to recruit pilots to stop an alien invasion.

Random House and Universal picked up the book and film rights, respectively, based on a 20-page proposal from Cline in 2012.

You know all the backlash that Ready Player One has been getting? (I haven’t seen it yet myself, but in Spielberg I trust.)

Armada is absolute trash. It’s just as filled with “HEY REMEMBER THAT THING” prose, but instead of trying to use it to further a sort of original plot, Armada is pretty much The Last Starfighter beat for beat.

Sure hope we get as many angered hot takes over this one.

Guillermo del Toro Signs Overall Deal with Fox Searchlight

The Wrap:

Terms of the deal, brokered by division heads Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula, will cover live action film projects to be written, produced and/or directed by del Toro. The studio, now the property of the Walt Disney Company, nabbed Best Picture this year for del Toro’s “The Shape of Water.“

The projects will be developed through a still-unnamed joint label. First up is “Antlers,“ a film about an elementary school teacher who takes in a troubled student keeping a mysterious and deadly family secret.

This definitely puts some of my Fox/Disney worries to rest. Awesome news for del Toro!

First Trailer for Neil Gaiman Adaptation HOW TO TALK TO GIRLS AT PARTIES

youtu.be/nWzHaRM8j…

Based on a Neil Gaiman short story, and distributed by A24.

Yeah, I’m in.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Funko Enters The Cereal Game?

Deep in a profile on the owners of Funko by the Coronado Eagle & Journal comes this juicy nerd tidbit:

Seems to fit perfectly with their vibe.

I know that people are - appropriately so - Pop’d out, but Funko keeps diversifying their line with such unique ideas, its hard to hate on them as a business.

LEGO Announces Ultimate Collector's Edition STAR WARS Y-Wing

The Brothers Brick:

$200, but full of incredible detail and hitting - appropriately - May the 4th.

Denny's Unveils SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY Themed Menu, Greatest STAR WARS Character Name of All-Time

So, there’s a big blogger event happening today to celebrate the cross-promotion by Denny’s of the forthcoming new Star Wars film, Solo: A Star Wars Story.

As these quick and easy embedded posts will reveal…

We’re getting a special Denny’s menu (A touch of the #FastFoodArmsRace there):

twitter.com/mattsinge…

And - thanks to the give away of exclusive Topps trading cards (which you’ll be able to get at your local Denny’s), we have the GREATEST STAR WARS CHARACTER NAME EVER

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhE_hCQFfMe/?utm_source=ig_embed

THERM SCISSORPUNCH.

Sorry, Lance Uppercut, you just got blown out of the water as my new alias to check into hotels with.

Hey! I'm at AWESOME CON This Weekend!

Hey folks,

You’re not getting your normal blast-o-rama. updates for the next few days as I am away with the Super Art Fight gang for the 2018 edition of Awesome Con, in Washington, DC.

We’ve been a part of Awesome Con since it was a small, 7,000 attendee convention in 2013, and we’ve been lucky enough to watch it grow into a 70,000+ attendee behemoth of a show, filled with celebrities and other name talents, but they’ve always given us a chance to still be a prominent part of the show.

Any way you slice it, I’ll be there for all three of SAF’s shows, which will be on the days, times, and locations below:

Since I’ll be at a convention all weekend, blast-o-rama. will understandably be on the back burner for a few days, so hopefully, no major nerd news breaks.

If it does, well - I’ll guess I’ll yammer on about it on my Twitter account.

Either way, I’ll be back Monday. Talk at you soon, Internet.

WESTWORLD Season 2 Gets Its Official Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

LETS GO.

Bring on April 22nd.

MARIO KART Gets A Version of MONOPOLY

Engadget:

There have to be people who just collect these Monopoly variants, right?

Otherwise, I figure you just buy the one version you like and call it a day.

Donald Glover Decides To Leak His Own DEADPOOL Script

Pitchfork:

Although FX cited “creative differences,“ some media reports speculated that Glover’s busy schedule prevented him from writing the show. This morning, Glover tweeted, “for the record: i wasnt too busy to work on deadpool.“ He then tweeted a reference-heavy 15-page script that alludes to the BeyoncÁ© biting saga, Black Panther, Fortnite, Bitcoin fluctuations, Taylor Swift, the merits of YBN Nahmir and Rich the Kid, and much more.

Well, you can’t say the hardest working dude in showbiz wasn’t working any less hard on that Deadpool show, that’s for sure.

(Note: Normally, I’d just link the Tweets, but linking this Pitchfork article seemed easier than posting them all here.)

Demi Adejuyigbe Plays Homage to ANIMANIACS With This Trump Firings Song

Earlier this month on Twitter, this happened:

twitter.com/raesanni/…

In turn, all around awesome internet dude Demi Adejuyigbe made this happen.

www.youtube.com/watch

I love the web.

Pixar's New Short Film, BAO, is About Dumplings

Eater:

Look for it attached to The Incredibles II this Summer.

First Trailer for THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS

youtu.be/oQGA42-U0…

Who knew that Eli Roth had an Amblin film in him? This looks fun.

Fox Pushes Back X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX And THE NEW MUTANTS (Again)

Coming Soon:

Josh Boone’s The New Mutants has been pushed back a second time. It was originally scheduled to open on April 13, 2018, was then moved back to February 22, 2019, and has now been pushed all the way back to August 2, 2019. The cast for The New Mutants includes Anya Taylor-Joy, Maisie Williams, Charlie Heaton, Blu Hunt, Henry Zaga, and Alice Braga. Taylor-Joy previously confirmed that a new character will be added in reshoots.

So, does this mean these movies are going to be disastrous, or that Fox is just trying to find the best release dates for each film?

#FastFoodArmsRace: Pepsi Japan Brings Us "J-Cola", A Special Cola For Japan

Kotaku:

That’s exactly what NariNari wrote: ヘビーユーザー (hebiiyuuzaa), which is, of course, what’s used in the cola industry to refer to people who drink loads of the fizzy beverage.

J-Cola was developed after getting feedback from over a hundred Japanese cola lovers.

I’d imagine the US equivalent would just be a shit-ton of Mountain Dew.

ROM: THE SPACEKNIGHT To Get A Film Written By Zak Penn

Deadline:

Guess this is the post-Transformers escape plan for Allspark.

Gina Rodriguez To Be CARMEN SANDIEGO In Netflix Live Action Film

Deadline:

Can someone find Rockapella?

An Anonymous SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY Actor Spills The Behind-The-Scenes Beans

Vulture:

Interesting. Now, is this real, or is someone just leaking random info to help the movie?

YOU MAKE THE CALL!

Get Ready For Apple's TV Shows, in Spring 2019

Found in the middle of this New York Times Piece:

So, will these shows be “free” with Apple Music? Is Apple TV (the service, not the box) coming? What’s the plan here, guys?

There Goes That Donald Glover/Deadpool Animated Series

Variety:

The project was announced last May with a 10-episode order for the FXX channel. Glover was to have created the show with his brother, Stephen Glover. Those two are already collaborators on the much-praised FX series “Atlanta.“

FX confirmed the split on Saturday and noted that it remains in business with Marvel TV on the Noah Hawley drama “Legion,“ which returns for its second season on April 2. FX cited “creative differences" as its reason for bowing out of “Deadpool.“

Huh. Weird. Wonder if we’ll ever find out the “why” on this.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Red Lobster Brings Us...Lobster And Waffles

Foodbeast:

The new Lobster and Waffles dish features buttermilk fried Maine lobster tail perched atop a Cheddar Bay Biscuit waffle and drizzled with maple syrup. It’s a bit of an upscale take on chicken and waffles because of the lobster, but the combo of sweet, savory, salty, and cheesy sounds promising.

The countdown clock to Beyonce referencing this in a song begins here!

Michael Showalter Directing Jessica Chastain-Octavia Spencer Holiday Comedy

Variety:

Following a heated bidding war, the studio won the rights to the untitled pitch from Chastain’s Freckle Films and fast-tracked, adding Showalter as helmer. Universal beat out Fox and Paramount for the pitch, which follows two women fighting the elements to make it home for Christmas.

Never would’ve thought that Showalter would have this career renaissance as a director. Very cool to see, though!

Pacific Rim Uprising (2018): A Review

Back in 2013, director Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim hit theaters.

A love-letter to movies featuring giant monsters (or Kaiju) and giant robots (or Jaegers, in this universe). It was a glorious mashup of long running tropes, matched with a depth of universe, a consideration of a greater world.

I loved every second of it - it was hard not to, you could feel the joy in every frame.

Now, nearly five years later, the unexpected sequel, Pacific Rim Uprising has arrived in theaters, and I have to say - it very much left me wanting.

Note that phrase I used above? “Love-letter"? That’s pretty key to what’s missing from Pacific Rim Uprising.

In Pacific Rim, you felt the reverence del Toro had for both what had come before and what he created. Every segment lived and breathed, from the training to become a pilot, to the elaborate launching montages, to the treatment of Jaegers and Kaiju like some sort of battling Gods - forces of an incredible nature.

By comparison, Steven DeKnight’s Pacific Rim Uprising isn’t really quite as interested in worshiping what came before it.

Set 10 years after the events of Pacific Rim, our story follows some standard beats. We’ve got Jake Pentacost (John Boyega), the son of fallen hero Stacker Pentacost (that’s Idris Elba’s character from the first film) - he’s spending his days living in hedonism, making his way as an illegal trader of both Kaiju and Jaeger goods, avoiding living in his father’s shadow as a military hero. He encounters young scrapper Amara Namani (Cailee Spaeny), someone who is prepping for when - not if - the Kaiju return. She even built a scrappy Jaeger of her own! As I’m sure you’re already imagining, this - of course - leads to these two characters ending up under the side of good, but who ever said that we were in to these films for their unique plots?

The issue, however, is if it weren’t for the massive charisma of John Boyega - delivering on everything we’ve seen of him in Attack the Block and the latest Star Wars Trilogy - this would feel like a movie by numbers. Thankfully, his larger-than-life superstardom in training helps propel the movie forward…even when he’s paired with who can best be described as a charisma black hole, Scott Eastwood, playing a character whose name I’ve already forgotten, continuing to somehow have a career due to who his father is. Eastwood appears to come from the same Hollywood cloning factory who gave careers to people such as Sam Worthington, Garret Hedlund, Joel Kinnaman and Jai Courtney, in a successful attempt to distill the random-white-dude-action-hero into its most diluted, milquetoast form.

Thankfully, the movie also seems to be aware of how not great it is to that point, as the second half is an absolute blast, mixing in characters from the original Pacific Rim (Charlie Day’s Newt Geiszler and Burn Gorman’s Hermann Gottlieb get to take focus, especially Newt), focusing on monsters fighting robots, and delivering the closest a Hollywood motion picture has ever gotten to matching the sheer ballistic fun of Japanese anime.

The end result means that Pacific Rim Uprising is not really the greatest film in the world. If you’re a fan of the original, great! If you’ve never seen the first - yeah, you’ll need to see it, because this sequel has no interest in explaining anything to you. But it winds up being just a fun lark, a decent matinee, a movie to be re-run on cable which you’ll stick around for the last 20 minutes of.

The perfect analogy for what this sequel is comes with the film’s score. Composed by Lorne Balfe, following in the footsteps of Ramin Djawadi’s guitar heavy themes from the first film, none of the music is memorable in the least - but then come the moments where the main theme from the first film is revisited. Sure, the original version sounded better, but there’s just enough moments in this remix to get you 75% of the way there. That’s Pacific Rim Uprising in a nutshell.

Pacific Rim Uprising is in theaters now. You can get tickets via Fandango, or pre-order digitally via iTunes.

Official Teaser for RISE OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES

www.youtube.com/watch

I love the energy of this show. I was sold on how unique the character designs are, but this looks great in motion!

#FastFoodArmsRace: Wendy's Releases A Rap Mixtape

AV Club:

who is this even for

Frank Miller Signs a 5 Book Deal with DC Comics

Publishers Weekly:

As part of the new deal Miller will write Superman Year One, a new standalone graphic novel with art by John Romita Jr., in a story that DC says will redefine the Man of Steel for today’s fans. Also part of the new deal: Miller will write his first YA graphic novel, an untitled work with art by Ben Caldwell, that will star Carrie Kelley, a young girl first introduced in The Dark Knight Returns, who succeeds Robin as Batman’s partner.

We already knew about Superman Year One, which is whatever to me. But that Carrie Kelley book looks gorgeous.

Why haven’t I heard of Ben Caldwell before?

STREET FIGHTER To Return To TV

Deadline:

Street Fighter the series will draw on the game’s World Warrior story-arc — introduced in the 1991 Street Fighter II: The World Warrior sequel to the original game — as the jumping off point, centering on four protagonists: Ryu, Ken, Guile and Chun-Li. Together, they fight to take down M. Bison, the evil mastermind who runs Shadaloo, a global criminal organization. Though on different journeys, our heroes’ paths will cross as they are drawn into the World Warrior Tournament, a competition devised by M. Bison to find the most powerful and capable fighter in the world. On the journey they come to share, they must draw on their strength, skills, intelligence and loyalty in a battle to survive and emerge as the World Warrior.

There’s only one natural reaction to this news.

ASTRO CITY Comes To TV

Deadline:

The Astro City comics, created by writer Kurt Busiek and artists Brent Anderson and Alex Ross, spans 16 (and counting) standalone yet loosely-connected story arcs containing more than 2,000 original characters. It is claimed to be the last, fully fleshed out superhero universe in the English language comic book business that has not been exploited for the screen. Astro City made its debut in 1995 with Image Comics and is currently published by DC Comics.

Astro City is one of the greatest deconstructions/love letters to comic books ever created. I’ve always adored this series, so it’ll be awesome to see it come to life.

For those who have never read it - first, fix that - second, think a far more optimistic version of Watchmen. 90’s comics are continuing to have a moment.

MoviePass Cuts Their Prices YET AGAIN

Variety:

It initially cost just under $10 for users to see a movie-a-day for a month; both offerings are less than the cost of a single movie ticket in markets such as Los Angeles and New York City. The average movie ticket price across the country in 2017 was $8.97.

MoviePass said the lower pricing is only available for new subscribers. The company has attracted over 2 million customers since slashing its prices last summer from roughly $50 a month. But it’s made enemies in the process. Theater chains such as AMC have derided MoviePass’s business model as unsustainable. The service pays full price for each ticket its customers buy, subsidizing their multiplex visits. Though MoviePass hasn’t released its financial information, industry observers suspect it is operating at a significant loss.

So, either this is working, or the leadership at MoviePass is completely insane and A-OK with bleeding money until someone else wants to start paying out the cash for them.

I can say that, personally, living in a middle-sized town, I’ve had little to no issues with my MoviePass, and really enjoy using it. I’ve only gone without using it when I’m seeing a movie with my wife (mywife!) or when I want to see a movie opening night, a’la Avengers: Infinity War or Star Wars.

That said, I don’t think I use it anywhere near as much as I should, as I’m absolutely terrible at remembering to go see movies on nights that aren’t Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Medicom Delivers the JOHN WICK Action Figure of Your Dreams

The Toyark:

This looks AWESOME! I don’t know that I’d be willing to drop $74 on it, but it’s everything you could ever want out of a John Wick action figure, minus maybe some random henchmen for him to beat up on.

#FastFoodArmsRace: What If Ketchup, But Sliced?

Bo’s Fine Foods / Slice of Sauce:

Remember the rage I had yesterday for people crowdfunding Toys R Us?

I’ve found another list of people who need to be shot directly into orbit.

#FastFoodArmsRace: KFC Canada Brings Us The WAFFLE DOUBLE DOWN

Brand Eating:

I would absolutely fuck one of these up. BRING IT ON CANADA!

ARE YOU A BAD ENOUGH DUDE TO SAVE TOYS R US

GoFundMe:

This GoFundMe campaign is spearheaded by Isaac Larian and various investor associates. Isaac Larian is the CEO of  MGA Entertainment, Inc. (MGAE), one of the world’s leading privately held toy and entertainment companies and creator of family favorite brands including Little Tikes. Isaac and his associates are devoted to saving the retail chain and preserving the Toys“R"Us experience for future generations.

You can be a part of this historic movement to #SaveToysRUs by donating today!  Your donation will help to ensure that generations to come can “always be a Toys“R"Us kid" and save employee jobs that are at stake should the company cease operation.

The deadline for reaching the $1 billion goal is Memorial Day, May 28, 2018. The funds collected through this campaign would be used in the formulation of a bid to acquire some Toys“R"Us assets through the bankruptcy process. This is not a charitable donation, and certain donor disclosures apply.

This is legitimately one of the grossest things I’ve ever read.

I appreciate the fact that Issac Larian is wishing and wanting to save Toys “R” Us, and is - literally - putting his money where his mouth is ($200 mil worth), but crowdfunding such a venture isn’t the way to go.

Toys “R” Us itself was weighed down by the awful decisions and unnecessary debt of its vulture like ownership.

Deciding to make this business start back up under the guise of a “getting the community together” vibe (when it’s really about obtaining free capital from well-wishers) is just incompetent and praying upon the emotions of others.

Only invest if you can get paid out. Don’t make a donation to a for-profit company. Don’t be a chump.

And Issac Larian, go fuck yourself. How dare you try to look philanthropic when people’s real lives and real livelihoods are at stake. You know you’re not going to hit $1 Billion.

LEGO Launches A TRON: LEGACY Set, Just 8 Years After The Movie Release

Brickset:

Build Disney’s TRON: Legacy with this LEGO Ideas set, featuring 2 Light Cycles, 3 minifigures and a TRON grid/display base to recreate the movie chase scene and Identity Disc battle.

Build, play and display with this futuristic LEGO Ideas 21314 TRON: Legacy set from Disney, featuring 2 Light Cycles, each with minifigure seats and translucent-colored light-style elements, plus a divisible TRON grid with attachment points for the vehicles. Use the grid as a display base for the Light Cycles or split it in 2 to recreate the chase scene from Disney’s TRON: Legacy movie. Alternatively, stage an Identity Disc battle between the 3 included LEGO minifigures—Sam Flynn, Quorra and Rinzler—on the grid. This construction toy includes a booklet with information about its fan creator and LEGO designers, plus the lowdown on Disney’s TRON: Legacy movie and its main characters.

Striking while that iron is hot, guys.

All jokes aside, this looks like a great set for the TRON nerds in your life.

Legendary Los Angeles Comic Store / Comedy Venue, Meltdown Comics to Close

Splitsider:

Such a bummer.

One of the greatest honors and joys I’ve had with Super Art Fight was when we had the pleasure of playing NerdMelt a few years back.

That venue and store had such a great and cool following, so it’s a shame to see it go away. Hopefully something cool rises from its ashes.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Taco Bell Brings Its Tortilla Chips Home

Brand Eating:

The new line is inspired by the chain’s sauce packets in both flavor and in the design of the bags. The chips come in three flavors;

  • Fire - Flavored like Taco Bell’s Fire sauce, with hints of jalapenos, chili peppers, and paprika.
  • Mild - The flavor of Taco Bell’s Mild sauce, with hints of three chili peppers and cumin.
  • Classic - Simply tossed with salt.

I admire the use of their sauce flavors, but why would I want these over Tostino’s or Dorito’s?

New Red-Band DEADPOOL 2 Trailer Gives Us Full X-Force Action

www.youtube.com/watch

Here it is folks, the full-on trailer for Deadpool 2. Looks pretty good.

Thor and Valkyrie Reunite As...MEN IN BLACK

The Hollywood Reporter:

Tessa Thompson is joining her Thor: Ragnarok co-star Chris Hemsworth in Sony’s Men in Black reboot.

Fate of the Furious filmmaker F. Gary Gray is set to direct the movie, written by Iron Man screenwriters Matt Holloway and Art Marcum. The studio has the film dated for June 14, 2019.

Akin to how Jurassic World revived the Jurassic Park film series, Sony’s reboot is to feature new characters rather than Agents K and J, portrayed by original trilogy stars Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith, respectively, and will build on the contemporary sci-fi world in which they operated.

Fuck yes. Loving how much work Tessa Thompson is getting, she’s really something special.

A New GO! TEAM Song Is A Good New Go! Team Song

Kumail Nanjiani. Dave Batista. A Movie I Will Be Seeing.

The Hollywood Reporter:

Michael Dowse, who helmed the hockey movie Goon, is directing the feature that is being produced by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley.

Nanjiani will play a mild-mannered Uber driver named Stu that picks up a grizzled cop (Bautista) who is hot on the trail of a brutal killer. The driver finds himself thrust into a harrowing ordeal where he has to keep his wits, his life and his five-star rating.

I definitely think this will need to get retitled before release, but I am all about this movie.

From the Writer and Director of IT FOLLOWS comes...UNDER THE SILVER LAKE

www.youtube.com/watch

I dug It Follows, so even without seeing a second of Under the Silver Lake, I’m in for watching it.

(And yes, another A24 can’t miss flick.)

#FastFoodArmsRace: Arby Says 'Eff It, Put A Gyro On Top of Curly Fries'

Chew Boom:

This is a one-stop shop for a meal that will put you down like a horse tranquilizer.

Disney Parks Are About To Get a Bunch More Marvel!

Marvel.com:

We knew this was all inevitable, but it doesn’t mean this article didn’t leave me with geeky joy.

I really need to make it out to Disney sometime.

The RETURN of FLCL, with TWO Seasons!

www.youtube.com/watch

I can’t wait for FLCL to come back! This was a seminal series in my teenage anime devotion era, and the fact that the look and feel remains for these two new seasons (named Progressive and Alternative), has me very excited.

I sure hope The Pillows are writing new songs for this series too!

Say Farewell to ADVENTURE TIME with this First Look at Its Epic Finale!

www.youtube.com/watch

I can’t believe that Adventure Time has been around as long as it has, and it’s going to be a shame to see it wrap up (although I’m sure it could live on for streaming and reruns for ages), but this looks like a grand adventure to end the series!

A New Look at the CLOAK & DAGGER TV Series

www.youtube.com/watch

I never thought I’d see the day that Cloak and Dagger were getting a big time TV show.

I don’t even know that they’ve even ever had a non-miniseries run in comics?

#FastFoodArmsRace: Einstein Bros Launches Cheese Shampoo and Bacon Conditioner

Chew Boom:

Fans can purchase the set of shampoo and conditioner, inspired by the brand’s limited-time Cheesy Wakin’ Bacon sandwich, for $9.99 at EinsteinBros.com/SmellEdible while supplies last.

I…I don’t even get who this is for. I guess if you want to be that asshole at your office Christmas party, way to be ahead of the game in March.

Can You Build an Entire Movie around TAG?

www.youtube.com/watch

This year, the game coincides with the wedding of their only undefeated player, which should finally make him an easy target. But he knows they’re coming…and he’s ready.

Based on a true story, the New Line Cinema comedy “Tag" shows how far some guys will go to be the last man standing.

I like the cast assembled here, but…I dunno you guys. Seems like a “watch on HBO/on a flight” kind of movie.

Fila Brings PokÁ©mon Sneakers To South Korea

Kotaku:

As tipster Sang points out, Fila is teaming up with PokÁ©mon in South Korea for these “limited collaboration" Court Deluxe shoes.

The designs are inspired by Pikachu, Charmander, Squirtle, Bulbasaur and Jigglypuff.

These are actually pretty classy and subtle.

THE LADY AND THE TRAMP To Be Disney's Next "Live-Action" Remake

The Hollywood Reporter:

Bean has closed a deal to helm the live-action/CG hybrid remake of Disney’s animated classic Lady and the Tramp.

Brigham Taylor, who worked on the studio’s remake of The Jungle Book, is producing the project, which is looking to be made for Disney’s digital streaming service that will launch in 2019.

Feels unnecessary, but given how good The Jungle Book was, and how excited I am for The Lion King, maybe this too will be good.

CHOOSING TO BE OPTIMISTIC Y’ALL!

New Trailer for SICARIO: DAY OF THE SOLDADO

www.youtube.com/watch

I really loved Sicario. I don’t know that it, in any way, shape, or form needed a sequel, but this does look like a damn good movie either way.

Atari's ATARIBOX System Has An Official Name...And Not Much Else

Engadget:

I do like how they’re aping the classic look and feel, but with nothing planned, what’s stopping the new Atari VCS from turning into the next Ouya?

Could We See WAKANDA in Disney World?

/Film:

I’m just saying, they could do a pretty good job of retrofitting Avatar World to make it Wakanda.

Scott Snyder To Write Relaunched JUSTICE LEAGUE for DC Comics

DC Comics:

On sale June 6, JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 follows the events of DC NATION #0 (on sale May 2) and JUSTICE LEAGUE: NO JUSTICE (on sale weekly from May 9 through 30). The Justice League is launched into a mystery that will draw out their most terrible foes…in ways our heroes couldn’t possibly imagine! In this debut issue, Martian Manhunter struggles to protect the team from an incoming threat that will shatter the world as they know it, while a familiar face strikes out on a dark path…

I absolutely love Snyder’s work, so I’m in for this.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Krispy Kreme Brings The Pain with a Reese's Peanut Butter Egg Doughnut

Chew Boom:

Reese’s Peanut Butter Egg Doughnut features an unglazed yeast shell filled with a blend of peanut butter Kreme, a custom chocolate icing and decorated like a festive Easter egg.

There was a time and a place where I’d easily wreck a full dozen of these.

From Toys R Us's Ashes...KB Toys Will Rise?

Strategic Marks, LLC on LinkedIn:

Wow. Having stopped at my local Toys R Us one last time on Friday night, I honestly hope that this works out. The world needs it.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Sonic To Debut A PICKLE JUICE SLUSHIE This Summer

Food & Wine:

Nintendo To Broadcast NINDIES Showcase On March 20th

Polygon:

Next week’s Nindies Showcase can be viewed at Nintendo’s live video website (http://live.nintendo.com) and on YouTube. The showcase coincides with this year’s Game Developers Conference, where Polygon expects to go hands on with some of the Nindies likely to be part of the presentation.

The video is embedded below.

youtu.be/xZYQmrdaW…

Apple Holding Education Focused Event on March 27th

The Verge:

Innnnnteresting. Between this, and their new Families page, Apple is making a full-court press into a multi-generational focus.

Amazon Prime Video's Internal Viewing Numbers Revealed!

Reuters:

The documents also show that Amazon’s U.S. audience for all video programming on Prime, including films and TV shows it licenses from other companies, was about 26 million customers. Amazon has never released figures for its total audience.

I wonder how Reuters was able to obtain this - all the streaming services play quiet with their numbers, and Amazon in particular has been oblique about well, any/all of their successes, from Kindles sold to Prime subscriptions.

Ridley Scott To Direct QUEEN AND COUNTRY Comic Adaptation

The Wrap:

Set in the fictional British Secret Intelligence Service, “Queen and Country" centers on an operative named Tara Chace, a top British intelligence agent who is used as bait to draw out an international terrorist after an attack in London. The hit series ran for 32 issues from March 2001 to August 2007. “Queen & Country: Operation Broken Ground" won the 2002 Eisner Award for Best New Series.

Goddamn, I sure hope I’m 1/10th as active as Sir Ridley Scott is at 80 years old.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Ben & Jerry's To Introduce New S'Mores Flavor

Chew Boom:

Ben & Jerry’s latest version of the classic flavor is made with new toasted marshmallow ice cream, chocolate cookie swirls, graham cracker swirls and fudge flakes.

As a big fan of, well, S’more flavored anything, I am there.

Danny Boyle Confirmed To Direct BOND 25

Variety:

The filmmaker made the admission to Metro New York on Wednesday night at a special screening in New York of his new FX series “Trust.“

“We are working on a script right now,“ he said when asked if he’s directing the next film in the franchise. “And it all depends on that, really. I am working on a Richard Curtis script at the moment. We hope to start shooting that in six or seven weeks. Then Bond would be right at the end of the year. But we are working on them both right now.“

My only ask: Please be better than Spectre.

BATMEN: ETERNAL To Wrap Up James Tynion's Run on DETECTIVE COMICS

Polygon:

It’s something he was told by Scott Snyder, the writer on Batman from 2011 until 2016, who may have heard it from Grant Morrison, the writer on Batman from (with a few gaps) 2006 to 2010. Both Morrison and Snyder gave their own takes on Batman’s end within the pages of their runs.

Tynion is applying that adage to his own work, as he prepares to leave a Batman book that he’s been writing for nearly 50 issues, on a twice-monthly schedule that’s lasted two years. But if he’s going to make his mark, he’ll have to show us the end of not just Batman, but the assorted group of allies, proteges and surrogate children he’s collected.

And that’s what Tynion plans to do with “Batmen: Eternal,“ the final arc of his run on Detective Comics, which kicked off this week. He’s going to examine the end of the entire Bat-family. That’s somewhat ironic, considering that his run has also been all about recovering the past — echoing a lost era of Batman comics and repackaging its themes for a modern audience.

I’ve really enjoyed the Rebirth-era of DC Comics, specifically Batman, so I’m excited to see how Tynion intends to wrap up his run.

The New AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR Trailer Is Here!

www.youtube.com/watch

I love this trailer. The action looks epic, the character beats and interaction we’ve wanted to see from this crossover are represented - I can’t wait for April 27th!

Also, tickets are on sale.

LETS GO!

Ava DuVernay To Go Full Kirby With NEW GODS Film Adaptation

Variety:

The filmmaker has come on board to direct “New Gods" at Warner Bros. as part of the studio’s DC Extended Universe. “New Gods,“ based on DC Comics’ comic book series of the same name, is aimed at creating a new universe of properties for the studio. Created and designed by Jack Kirby, the comic first appeared in 1971.

The movie marks the second major superhero tentpole directed by a woman, following another DC property: Patty Jenkins’s “Wonder Woman.“

Unreal. Absolutely unreal. I never thought that Kirby’s work would come to life, whether as it has in Thor: Ragnarok or as it will with New Gods.

I do wonder - if DuVernay turned down Black Panther and has no interest in Star Wars, what drew her to this? I think we’re about to enter an interesting era for the DCEU.

Anyone ask for a SOUL CALIBUR / WITCHER Crossover?

www.youtube.com/watch

Seems like a logical 3rd-party character to mix in.

Either way, it’s a new Soul Calibur game, I’m there.

SHADOW OF THE TOMB RAIDER Trailer Officially Releases

www.youtube.com/watch

After a lot of leaks, here it is. Finally.

First Trailer For Bo Burnham's EIGHTH GRADE

www.youtube.com/watch

There was a lot of buzz about this one coming out of Sundance, so I knew to already take notice.

But with A24 distributing, Eight Grade will be almost unmissable. An incredible track record from that studio.

If you’re not familiar with Burnham, I highly recommend his Netflix special Make Happy.

SHADOW OF THE TOMB RAIDER To Hit This Fall

Kotaku:

Head to the official Tomb Raider website and you’ll see a message promising an announcement on March 15, 2018 at 6am PT. Inspect the HTML, however, and you’ll see the announcement early:

“tagline":“Shadow of The Tomb Raider is the climatic finale of Lara’s origin story. Available September 14th 2018” Whoops! But as a HUGE fan of the rebooted franchise, I’m there this Fall. We’ll probably have a trailer tomorrow. Maybe.

Stephen Hawking, Dead at Age 76

BBC:

He died peacefully at his home in Cambridge in the early hours of Wednesday, his family said.

The British scientist was famed for his work with black holes and relativity, and wrote several popular science books including A Brief History of Time. What an incredible mind. What an incredible life. What incredible work. Godspeed.

Alex Garland Is Working On a Show For FX

Collider:

Garland wrote the pilot and will direct as well as executive produce alongside DNA TV and Scott Rudin Productions, and the official synopsis is as follows:

In Devs, a young computer engineer, Lily, investigates the secretive development division of her employer, a cutting-edge tech company based in San Francisco, which she believes is behind the disappearance of her boyfriend. After Ex Machina and Annihilation, I’m down for ANYTHING Alex Garland produces. FX is continuing to build quite a portfolio, yeah?

Nicolas Cage To Finally Play Superman

USA Today:

Nicolas Cage is voicing A-list comic-book icon Superman, singer/songwriter Halsey co-stars as Amazon princess Wonder Woman — who travels around in her signature invisible jet — and rapper Lil Yachty plays Green Lantern in the upcoming animated movie (in theaters July 27) that takes the young heroes of the Cartoon Network show Teen Titans GO! to the big screen. They are the first of several celebrities lending their talents for additional DC characters in the project. OK, probably not the format we expected, but I’m glad the guy gets to live his dream finally.

Elon Musk Is Building A New ONION?

The Daily Beast:

But what seemed like a fairly standard joke about the vapidity of ambition and wealth had an easter egg of truth.

Several former top staffers and writers of The Onion are now working on a secret project financially backed by Musk, The Daily Beast can confirm. I’m all for more, well funded comedy ventures on the web.

Apple's 2018 Edition of WWDC will be on June 4th

The Verge:

Facebook Looking To Launch Video News Programs

Axios:

The First Trailer for FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDLEWALD

www.youtube.com/watch

At the end of the first film, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) was captured by MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), with the help of Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne). But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escaped custody and has set about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings.

In an effort to thwart Grindelwald’s plans, Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.

The film features an ensemble cast led by Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, with Jude Law and Johnny Depp. The cast also includes, ZoÁ« Kravitz, Callum Turner, Claudia Kim, William Nadylam, Kevin Guthrie, Carmen Ejogo, and Poppy Corby-Tuech.

“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" is directed by David Yates, from a screenplay by J.K. Rowling. The film is produced by David Heyman, J.K. Rowling, Steve Kloves and Lionel Wigram.

Slated for release on November 16, 2018, the film will be distributed worldwide in 2D and 3D in select theatres and IMAX by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. I was mixed on the original. We’ll see how this one turns out. What say you?

#FastFoodArmsRace: Outback Stacks Food Stuff, Calls It New

Chew Boom:

The 3-Point Rib Bloom features the chain’s signature Bloomin’ Onion topped with Aussie Cheese Fries and four signature BBQ Baby Back Ribs. Served with spicy signature bloom sauce

You can find the limited-time 3-Point Rib Bloom at participating locations nationwide for a suggested price of $12.99. Stuff, on top of thing, on top of thing = profits.

Apple Nabs BOB'S BURGERS Creators Next Toon: CENTRAL PARK

Deadline:

The series comes from the creator/executive producer of the Emmy-winning Fox/20th TV animated comedy series Bob’s Burgers Loren Bouchard, who co-wrote it with the Bob’s Burgers executive producer Nora Smith and actor-writer Josh Gad (Frozen). The show’s voice cast includes Gad, Leslie Odom Jr., Titus Burgess, Kristen Bell, Stanley Tucci, Daveed Diggs and Kathryn Hahn.

Central Park tells the story of a how a family of caretakers, who live and work in Central Park, end up saving the park, and basically the world. As a huge fan of Bob’s Burgers (binge-watching the first few seasons got me through the recovery of my appendectomy), I am absolutely in for this.

#FastFoodArmsRace: IHOP's International Pancakes

Chew Boom:

An Absolutely Gorgeous Studio Ghibli-styled Ad For Travel Oregon

www.youtube.com/watch

I love Oregon, you guys.

And I love this ad even more.

Just wish they’d provide some details about the animators or studios involved.

David Chang To Expand His Media Empire

Natalie Jarvey at Hollywood Reporter:

The chef behind the Momofuku Restaurant Group is launching Majordomo Media, a multimedia business that he is describing as a place to create content around “food and culture in a way nobody has really ever tried." Considering how much I adore Ugly Delicious, I cannot wait to see what Chang and his cohorts have in mind for additional TV and Podcast followups.

Apple Purchases Texture

Peter Kafka at Recode:

Apple has purchased Texture, a subscription service that lets users consume all or part of more than 200 magazines. The service works on both Apple and Android devices, and Apple says that won’t change after it completes the transaction. Sounds like a natural expansion of the work being done within Apple News.

Maybe we’ll finally get to see Apple News on macOS too?

#FastFoodArmsRace: Disneyland's Incredible Pixar Fest Menu

Amy Ratcliffe at Nerdist:

The Ratatouille ratatouille looks AMAZING.

Villeneuve Says TWO DUNE Films Are Coming

Jordan Ruimy at The Playlist:

But two Dune films? It feels like a bold play.

Hey, How's The FINAL FANTASY VII Remake Coming Along?

Brian Ashcraft at Kotaku:

A Japanese job listing put out a call for “core member" (コアメンバー) recruits, looking for those with game planner experience and especially those with level design and Unreal Engine 4 skills. The monthly salary starts at 300,000 yen ($2,817) and the gig is in Tokyo. Core members. Being hired in March 2018. For a remake announced in 2015.

Look forward to seeing it on the PlayStation 5.

First Look At Boots Riley's SORRY TO BOTHER YOU

#FastFoodArmsRace: Krispy Kreme Turns Donuts Green

Brand Eating:

To fit the theme, Krispy Kreme is calling the green donuts, “O’riginal Glazed Donuts,” and this year marks the first time that they’re offering them for more than one day. Just another green thing to end up in vomit piles on Sunday, March 18th!

WESTWORLD Gets A Creepy Yet Adorable Looking Mobile Game

WestworldMobile.com:

Turns Out Penguins Like Selfies Too

Australian Antarctic Division:

The vision was filmed at the Auster Rookery near Australia’s Mawson research station.

Australian Antarctic expeditioner, Eddie Gault, left the camera on the ice when visiting the rookery, and it didn’t take long for the naturally curious birds to seize the opportunity for a selfie.

Penguins remain the best. Check out that video at the link (it’s not embeddable) for sure.

Another Oral History - This Time, THE SIMPSONS' 'Last Exit to Springfield'

Brian Welk for The Wrap:

It’s a long, weird bit that goes thirty awkward seconds without a payoff. The words “dental plan” and “Lisa needs braces” bounce around Homer’s brain as he waits in a beer line, until he blurts out a realization that reveals to viewers, for the first time, how dumb he truly is.

“It went on for a page and a half! We gotta cut this. This doesn’t make any sense at all,” Mike Reiss, who was co-showrunner of “The Simpsons” at the time, remembers thinking. “And Jay and Wally said, you gotta do it. Trust us on this.”

The idea of the episode is simple — Homer Simpson becomes a union leader to fight for his dental plan — but it spawns endless jokes, movie and TV parodies, and even a folk song. Outlets from USA Today to The Ringer have named “Last Exit to Springfield" the best “Simpsons" episode ever, which it is.

A great read for a Friday afternoon.

Second Trailer For HBO's ANDRE THE GIANT Doc

Facebook Finds Another Gross Way To Get More of Your Data

Sarah Perez at TechCrunch:

Mario Kart Comes To Google Maps

Tom Warren at The Verge:

More Entertainment Weekly Coverage For AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR

Anthony Breznican at Entertainment Weekly outdid himself here.

In addition to yesterday’s covers and photo reveals, we’ve got two more major articles.

A 2-Day Behind the Scenes look:

Thor and Captain America are standing on an African savanna beside a sparkling river, back-to-back for the first time in ages, each reunited with his old friend while wielding new weapons. Cap’s red-white-and-blue shield is gone, replaced by a pair of vibranium gauntlets (courtesy of Black Panther’s genius little sister, Shuri), while Thor swings a mystical ax known as Stormbreaker, a supersized upgrade from his demolished hammer, Mjolnir.

The skyline of Wakanda’s capital city stands in the distance, and Cap and Thor are among hundreds of tribal warriors from throughout the nation, gathered at the river’s edge to join the heroes in facing down a horde of synthetic-alien demons known as the Outriders.

This is the front line of an epic battle in Avengers: Infinity War (out April 27), and it’s not just about saving the world this time — Earth’s mightiest heroes, and some from much farther away, are trying to save the entire universe from a cosmic tyrant who’d like to kill off half of it.

No pressure. And a great Q&A with Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige:

Toys R Us To Liquidate All Stores, Close

The company recently announced plans to close 184 stores, or about 20% of its roughly 800 U.S. stores, as it worked with creditors to restructure its debts. But now it is now evaluating bids to liquidate the remainder of its U.S. locations, the people said. Absolutely heartbreaking. From being the home of my childhood hopes and dreams to a regular stop as an adult toy collector, this is so sad to see.

Makes me wonder what will become of the toy industry, or if someone else will look to grow where Toys R Us left off.

The Obamas To Bring Original Programming To Netflix

Michael D. Shear, Katie Benner and John Koblin for The New York Times:

Vin Diesel IS Bloodshot

Mike Fleming Jr and Patrick Hipes at Deadline:

That JOKER Origin Film Is Sounding Even Weirder

Umberto Gonzalez at The Wrap:

Many fans scratched their heads when news first broke that Martin Scorsese, who has eschewed superhero films in the past, would be  a producer of the film. But his involvement makes more sense given his work on 1982’s “King of Comedy,“ which starred Robert De Niro as a deluded comedian who can’t catch a break. The Joker origin story will include nods to that film, insiders told TheWrap. “Tell me, Batman - what is the deal with airline food?! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA

#FastFoodArmsRace: 7-Eleven Launches Customizable Tater Tots

Chew Boom:

In what the company describes as an “advantage over other tater tots,“ 7-Eleven Tots come with a trip to the brand’s condiment and toppings bar.

In addition to the standard mustard and ketchup condiments, other toppings available include chili sauce, melted cheese, pico de gallo, diced onion, sliced jalapeno peppers, green relish pickles and Ranch dressing. Toppings may vary by location, but you can expect to find between six and ten topping options available at individual stores. What a world.

'I Am The Very Important Longread Everyone Is Talking About'

Rebecca Jennings at McSweeney’s:

All you have to do is read the rest of these 18,564 words. My Instapaper account is filled with the articles this one is lampooning.

I’m part of the problem.

Twitter, When Everyone Is Verified, No One Is Verified

Natt Garun at The Verge:

“The intention is to open verification to everyone,“ Dorsey says. “And to do it in a way that’s scalable, where (Twitter) is not in the way and people can verify more facts about themselves and we don’t have to be the judge or imply any bias on our part.“ Huh. Weird choice, Twitter. But why?

YOU MAKE THE CALL!

SUPER SMASH BROS Reveal Headlines March 8th NINTENDO DIRECT

youtu.be/NsFna-Z1M…

Nintendo.com:

Personally, Nintendo just locked in my gaming for the rest of the year, I think? (Notable exceptions: God of War, Spider-Man and Soul Calibur VI for the PS4.)

Rob Liefeld Builds EXTREME Cinematic Universe With Netflix

Mike Fleming Jr. at Deadline:

Mackenzie Davis to Lead TERMINATOR Reboot

Justin Kroll at Variety:

I have to say though - this is a great pick for what will undoubtedly be a thankless gig.

Illumination Unveils Their Take on THE GRINCH

www.youtube.com/watch

Academy Award® nominee Benedict Cumberbatch lends his voice to the infamous Grinch, who lives a solitary life inside a cave on Mt. Crumpet with only his loyal dog, Max, for company. With a cave rigged with inventions and contraptions for his day-to-day needs, the Grinch only sees his neighbors in Who-ville when he runs out of food.

Each year at Christmas they disrupt his tranquil solitude with their increasingly bigger, brighter and louder celebrations. When the Whos declare they are going to make Christmas three times bigger this year, the Grinch realizes there is only one way for him to gain some peace and quiet: he must steal Christmas. To do so, he decides he will pose as Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, even going so far as to trap a lackadaisical misfit reindeer to pull his sleigh.

Meanwhile, down in Who-ville, Cindy-Lou Who—a young girl overflowing with holiday cheer—plots with her gang of friends to trap Santa Claus as he makes his Christmas Eve rounds so that she can thank him for help for her overworked single mother. As Christmas approaches, however, her good-natured scheme threatens to collide with the Grinch’s more nefarious one. Will Cindy-Lou achieve her goal of finally meeting Santa Claus? Will the Grinch succeed in silencing the Whos’ holiday cheer once and for all? Cumberbatch is an inspired casting choice and the animation looks solid, but I don’t know that we need another retelling of the Grinch’s story.

But I bet my niece will love it.

DC Comics Unveils New Imprint - DC BLACK LABEL

Graeme McMillan at The Hollywood Reporter:

Jon Favreau To Executive Produce And Write Live-Action STAR WARS Series

StarWars.com:

Entertainment Weekly Has FIFTEEN AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR Covers

Anthony Breznican at Entertainment Weekly:

For this week’s EW issue dedicated to Avengers: Infinity War, we have 22 heroes, 15 different covers, and one big, bad villain at the center — Thanos, the Mad Titan.

When combined, the full range of covers form the Avengers symbol spread out across a cosmic background.

Inside the issue, we have EW’s exclusive set visit to the film, chronicling a race against time as a real-life thunderstorm bore down on the movie’s massive Wakanda battle scene. So, I guess we’ll see a shit-ton of EW exclusive articles hit the web over the next few days, yeah?

Here’s a gallery of all of the covers.

'Facebook Didn’t Kill Online Sketch Comedy - The Entire Internet Did'

Brian Raftery for Wired:

The two women had never written together before, but they quickly devised a script for a “Commuter Barbie” sketch. Arisso, a packaging designer, created an array of Barbie-sized accessories, including a beanie—made out of a black-dyed baby sock—and a tiny pair of pink headphones (to help “tune out the creeps when you’re stuck in the middle seat”). After recruiting a pair of young actors, and hiring a jingle writer, Hsieh and Arisso used their Brooklyn living room to shoot the video, for which they spent around $1,600 of their own money. “The production value was a really big concern for us,” says Arisso, 24. “We wanted to make sure people kept watching after three seconds.” After a few weeks of editing, Hsieh and Arisso had a sharp, spot-on three-minute commercial parody ready to go.

Now, they just had to figure out how to get people to watch it. Interesting piece about the state of online comedy, which doesn’t just point the finger at Facebook, but the difficulty of being noticed on the web in general in 2018.

A Really Dope AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR/Marvel Studios 10th Anniversary Tee

I was made aware of this shirt Disney was selling earlier today.

If you’re hyped for Infinity War or just love Marvel Studios, like a certain person blogging this right now, this may be your jam.

Also: Is that Matt Taylor artwork? Sure looks like it…

Hollywood Reporter Cover Story on SILICON VALLEY Tells The Real Story of TJ Miller’s Departure

The Hollywood Reporter:

Let’s get it out of the way now. The decision to cut ties with Miller, 36, had been a long time coming. While nearly everyone associated with the series is loath to speak publicly about the events that led to the actor’s departure, several make veiled references to his “demons” and the fact that he’s been known to self-medicate with alcohol and other substances. Miller hasn’t been shy about those vices either, wearing them at times like a badge of honor — or at least a solid launchpad for comedy, with bits that have hinged on his propensity to “drink till he passed out.” There had been stretches when, multiple show sources say, he looked to have things under control, and others when he’d show up seemingly under the influence, if he showed up at all. A lengthy cover-story on the latest season of what is easily one of my favorite shows on TV. And they are not afraid to tell the truth about TJ Miller.

'Aging Couple Praying Band Does Not Play Encore'

The Hard Times:

JURASSIC WORLD ALIVE: It's POKEMON GO, But DINOSAURS!

www.youtube.com/watch

Hits your favorite app stores (iOS and Android) this Spring. You can sign up online now to be one of the first to play.

Nintendo Announces March 8th Nintendo Direct

twitter.com/NintendoA…

I’m there. These have become like little Apple Keynotes for me.

Charlize Theron meets TULLY in this Full Trailer

'The Olympian Who Believes He's Always On TV'

Longreads:

Andrew “Bart" Simpson, whose body might or might not have been in the water, was a stocky British Olympic gold medalist with short, spiky chestnut hair and a wide smile. One of the world’s best sailors, Simpson knew what to do in emergencies, which made his being trapped underwater for ten minutes all the more incomprehensible. The $140-million Artemis was supposed to be a technological wonder, so it made no sense to anyone onboard that it had crumpled so quickly into a taco shell, trapping Simpson in its fold.

Finally, Kevin and his teammates were able to pull Simpson’s soggy two hundred pounds out of the water and onto a floating backboard.

The emergency responders began to perform CPR, one officer cutting open Simpson’s wetsuit so he could apply a defibrillator to his chest. They pushed, the sailors waiting for Simpson to breathe, to show some sign of life. But Simpson was dead. He was 36 years old.

Months of preparation and millions of dollars had gone into the design of the Artemis, a vessel that had stunned other sailors with its foils and gadgets and that had seemed almost to fly over the water. Kevin suddenly felt lost. What had happened? Who, if anyone, was to blame? And why had Simpson, of all the sailors on the boat, been the one to die? Kevin had known Simpson for years, their sailing careers often overlapping, intersecting, and running in parallel. Simpson had something that Kevin and some of the other men on board the Artemis did not — an Olympic gold medal — and he represented something that all of the men on board aspired to be: a champion athlete and family man with a kind heart and generous spirit, seemingly unfazed by the success that he had attained.

Kevin thought about all this and more as the emergency workers took Simpson’s body away and everyone went home. In the days that followed, part of him wanted to talk to his teammates about what had happened, but part of him dared not. Because, if he was honest, he still wasn’t entirely sure that the crash and Simpson’s death had really happened. It seemed too horrifying to be real. And for a few moments, there had been that flash.

The Director. Cameras. Actors. Scripts.

Kevin wondered: Had it all just been part of The Show? An absolutely fascinating read about an Olympic athlete suffering from an aliment called Truman Show Disorder, which is a mental illness that works exactly as you think.

John Travolta to Star in MOOSE, Directed By Fred Durst

Variety:

Based on events from Durst’s own life, “Moose" was written by Durst with Dave Bekerman. Travolta is playing the title character, a rabid movie fan obsessed with his favorite celebrity action hero, portrayed by Devon Sawa. As Moose’s obsession grows stronger, his fixation turns from stalking to ambition of destroying the star’s life — a story inspired by a real-life fan who stalked Durst many years ago. This article was definitely written by a game of Boggle, right? There’s no way Moose is real, yeah?

Air-Ropes: The Grappling Hook Experience

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/184007455/air-ropes-the-grappling-hook-experience/description

While browsing Kickstarter (since I have an already successful Kickstarter which just launched yesterday PLUG!), I discovered “Air-Ropes: The Grappling Hook Experience”.

This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen.

The Kickstarter is bound to fail (hitting $2000 on an aimed $350,000 goal as of this writing), but I’m just amazed that someone thought that this was a viable product…and 27 people agreed.

What a world.

'For Two Months, I Got My News From Print Newspapers. Here’s What I Learned.'

Farhad Manjoo for The New York Times:

But for much of the next 24 hours after that alert, I heard almost nothing about the shooting.

There was a lot I was glad to miss. For instance, I didn’t see the false claims — possibly amplified by propaganda bots — that the killer was a leftist, an anarchist, a member of ISIS and perhaps just one of multiple shooters. I missed the Fox News report tying him to Syrian resistance groups even before his name had been released. I also didn’t see the claim by Senator Bernie Sanders and other liberals on Twitter that the massacre had been the 18th school shooting of the year, which wasn’t true.

Instead, the day after the shooting, a friendly person I’ve never met dropped off three newspapers at my front door. That morning, I spent maybe 40 minutes poring over the horror of the shooting and a million other things the newspapers had to tell me.

Not only had I spent less time with the story than if I had followed along as it unfolded online, I was better informed, too. Because I had avoided the innocent mistakes — and the more malicious misdirection — that had pervaded the first hours after the shooting, my first experience of the news was an accurate account of the actual events of the day. Why, it’s almost as if allowing the smoke to clear before piecing together facts, and building opinions from those facts, is a better way to take in information, as opposed to launching immediate reactions. Funny that, right?

The Official Trailer for LEGION Season 2

www.youtube.com/watch

CAN’T WAIT!

CHRISTOPHER ROBIN Gets A Teaser Trailer

www.youtube.com/watch

So, it’s Hook, but with Winnie the Pooh.

That’s not me slagging it, btw - I really loved Hook as a kid.

DEADPOOL’s Getting a Fresh Start, Too!

Polygon:

Yes, what about Deadpool?

Courtesy of Marvel Comics, Polygon can reveal that the Merc With the Mouth is getting his own minty fresh start with Deadpool #1, the beginning of a new series written by Skottie Young and drawn by Nic Klein.

I’d like to see Young illustrating the book as well, but no problems here!

Jeff Lemire Gives THE SENTRY A Fresh Start

comicbook:

Spinning out of the Sentry’s surprising appearance in Doctor Strange, writer Jeff Lemire (Moon Knight) and artist Kim Jacinto (Avengers: No Surrender) will launch a brand new Sentry series starring the powerful Marvel hero. However, this isn’t your typical superhero tale.

Lemire is SUCH a great pick for The Sentry.

A lot of these Marvel Fresh Start books are sounding great to me.

Nerdist Reveals Tony Stark’s Fresh Start as IRON MAN

Nerdist:

That’s how author Dan Slott described Tony Stark: Iron Man, his upcoming comic with artist Valerio Schiti for Marvels “Fresh Start" relaunch. Everyone’s favorite billionaire techno-genius is back, and this time it’s going to get weird. Nerdist sat down with writer Dan Slott and artist Valerio Schiti for an exclusive interview about Tony Stark: Iron Man.

Slott’s been ready for an Iron Man book for some time, given the last year or two of his Amazing Spider-Man run. Schiti’s art looks lovely, to boot.

LUKE CAGE Season 2 - Hits Netflix on June 22nd

www.youtube.com/watch

And I was just wondering yesterday what the status of new seasons of Daredevil, Iron Fist and Luke Cage were.

CUTE ANIMALS ON FIRE: The Super Art Fight Party Game

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/superartfight/cute-animals-on-fire-the-super-art-fight-party-gam

So, my other vocation - Super Art Fight - has launched its first ever card game, a modified home version of our live show.

Astonishingly, we have already hit our goal after a “soft open” launch yesterday for our mailing list subscribers.

This is going to be pretty damn cool. Check it out!

Netflix Unveils Their LOST IN SPACE Remake

www.youtube.com/watch

Does the inclusion of Parker Posey make up for the lack of Matt LeBlanc?! YOU MAKE THE CALL!

GET OUT Gets The Will Smith Credits Rap It Deserves

www.youtube.com/watch

The incredible Demi Adejuyigbe is at it again.

Love these. Check out his YouTube channel for a lot more.

New Apple HomePod Ad Directed by Spike Jonze

www.youtube.com/watch

In the vein of the Fatboy Slim “Weapon of Choice" video and his ad for KENZO Perfume, Spike Jonze sells us on Apple’s new home speaker.

The ad stars musican FKA Twigs and features an Apple Music-exclusive song by Anderson .Paak called “‘Til It’s Over”. Fun watch!

Trailer and Announce Date Revealed for MUPPET GUYS TALKING

www.youtube.com/watch

Looks like it will be direct download only, March 16th on MuppetGuysTalking.com.

I definitely want to check this out, but would love for Hulu or Netflix to pick it up.

Mondo Goes Behind The Scenes on their BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES Figure

Mondo:

When the opportunity came up to be able to make 1/6 scale figures from the show, it was an easy “yes.” What wasn’t so easy was deciding our approach. I wanted to try and make the characters as accurate as possible, and knew that doing a traditional 1/6 scale with fabric clothing wasn’t going to yield the best results. I’ve seen some pretty good fan-made custom figures out there attempting this, and while some look pretty good, there is always something off about them (in my personal opinion), whether it be the proportions or the fabric costume taking away some of the distinct crispness of the design. So what to do? Serve the design, which means, in this case, go full sculpture and work in articulation in the most natural way possible, that allows for a variety of great poses while having as little compromising of the form as possible.

While I may not be in love with the “cel-shaded" look of the figure, this is a really cool behind the scenes look of the figure making process.

Also, there’s a sneaky-peak at the end of the rest of the line to come!

The Lonely Island Reveals Their Oscar Demo, “Why Not Me?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7DssfaYi5w

The Lonely Island on YouTube:

Unfortunately, it wasn’t chosen because it was “financially and logistically impossible", so for fun we thought we’d share the rough storyboards of what would have been a fully shot, star-studded music video of exorbitant cost.

All vocals and visuals are temp, so please use your imagination and enjoy!

Better Grades? More Gaming!

The Verge:

The original, paywalled WSJ link is here.

I know this sounds almost nightmarish to some, at the least Big Brother-ish, but honestly, this doesn’t sound that bad?

If grades are available in a digital database, making them accessible, and then allowing developers APIs to read them and allow mobile playtime based on the grades (maybe even incentivizing grades going up?) could be a really cool incentive for kids to do better.

2018 Oscars Ratings Continue To Decline, Near All-Time Low

Collider:

Two-fold issue here, I think:

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - Hearts of Oak 15th Anniversary Tour

Stereogum:

In honor of Hearts Of Oak’s 15th anniversary, the band is playing a series of two-night stands in major cities across the US. The first night of the show will consist of a brief run of warmup songs followed by Hearts Of Oak in its entirety. The second night will be a greatest hits set celebrating two decades of Leo’s output.

This is really tempting. Been ages since I’ve gone to a show, and Ted always rules…

#FastFoodArmsRace: Pizza Hut Introduces TV Pausing, Pizza Ordering Shoes

AdWeek:

“What we love about partnering with him is he specializes in creating custom sneakers, he’s well known in sneaker culture and he’s just a fabulous partner to work with on something as special as this,“ Pizza Hut U.S. chief marketing officer Zipporah Allen told Adweek.

Available in both red and wheat colors, with cheese grater mesh on the side of the shoes, cheese-pull laces, and “extreme marinara splash,“ Pie Tops II allow you to order Pizza Hut’s deal (two-topping, two medium pizzas for $5.99) and pause the game while you receive your delivery.

BUT HOW MUCH DO THEY COST

#FastFoodArmsRace: Chick-Fil-A Introduces A Breakfast Milkshake

Chew Boom:

The creamy and tart treat is made with a combination of the chain’s signature vanilla Icedream and Simply Orange Juice. The new treat first appeared at Chick-Fil-A last fall in Jacksonville, Florida as a limited-time test item.

So, it’s an Orange Juice milkshake, yeah? I’m all for Milkshakes, but 6am feels early for Ice Cream.

Full List of 2018 Oscar Winners

Straight from Oscars.org

The bits I’m happiest about:

The bummers:

Also - the Jet Ski bit from Kimmel last night was killer. Sure hope the costume designer from Phantom Thread posts online him riding it in Lake Havasu.

Official Teaser for MARY POPPINS RETURNS

www.youtube.com/watch

Not a lot of there there, but we know…

SNL’S Cut-For-Time STAR WARS Sketch

www.youtube.com/watch

I haven’t watched this week’s episode yet (hosted by Charles Barkley), but with a sketch this great on the cutting room floor, it better be a killer.

Nick Kroll and John Mulaney's Opening Monologue at the 2018 Film Independent Spirit Awards

www.youtube.com/watch

Absolutely hilarious and brutal stuff. Their 2017 one was pretty great too, if you haven’t seen it yet.

'One year in, the Switch might be my favorite Nintendo console ever'

The Verge:

But with the Switch, I think I have a new favorite.

One of a series of articles by The Verge celebrating the Switch, on this, the console’s 1st birthday. (See also these articles on how technology finally made Nintendo’s dreams possible, and how the Switch made being a digital only console gamer so damn intriguing).

As for me? I’ve been a Switch owner from Day One (and I’ve yet to play 1-2 Switch!), and it’s hard to not describe the system in glowing terms.

So many great, unique, interesting and fun games, and ports which seem to just work better due to the more accessible nature of the system - even if they take a graphical hit.

The Nintendo Switch may, in due time, supplant the Sega Dreamcast as my favorite video game system ever.

MoviePass: Blocking Films and Asking For Ticket Stubs

/Film:

Several users in certain markets noticed that their MoviePass app was barring them from purchasing tickets to Red Sparrow, the spy thriller starring Jennifer Lawrence. And meanwhile, a select few users got notified of an old, unpopular feature that MoviePass may be bringing back.

Props to /Film for jumping on some proper Twitter rage and doing the legwork to find out what the heck is exactly going on.

I’m happy so far with how things have been going for my MoviePass usage, and I get it - they’re big, getting bigger, and testing the waters to get even larger - but more anti-consumer moves like this?

I’d be glad to cancel my subscription in a heartbeat.

Funko Unveils SHAPE OF WATER Pop Vinyl

Funko Blog:

The Elisa and Amphibian Man look great, but that actual Guillermo del Toro Pop brings a smile of joy to my face.

A Touch of Truth From The Onion

The Onion:

The Onion nails it, as I continue to use this site to underline the importance of a non-Facebook and Twitter web…all while cross-posting these entries to those sites.

Hot Toys Reveals First Wave of Their High-End AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR Collectibles

ComingSoon:

Of note, the Iron Man figure is made with die-cast metal.

I’m scared to ask how much these will cost.

Marvel’s Fresh Start Sends DOCTOR STRANGE Into Space

Marvel.com:

The Eye of Agamotto is closed! Doctor Stephen Strange has lost his connection to the Earth’s arcane power, and he can’t wait to recover while nightmares press against the seams of our reality. Tony Stark offers a 21st-century solution: when astral travel fails, try astronautical travel. Enter Doctor Strange: Space-Explorer Supreme!

This would be a weird take for the MCU, but I’d be into Space Cumberbatch.

Bandai Reveals Their Entire SH Figuarts AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR Line

You can check out the full announcement page here (in Japanese, but it’s pretty easy to follow for us English speakers).

Here’s the full lineup:

Why yes, I’d like all of them.

THE ANDY DALY PODCAST PILOT PROJECT Returns For Season 2

The AV Club:

Daly’s been hinting recently that the show might be coming back soon, and Earwolf made it official today, releasing a trailer episode for TADPPP’s second season.

If you haven’t listened to the first season, you owe it to yourself. Absolutely hysterical.

Disney Sets Its Slate Through 2023

Collider:

DISNEY’S CHRISTOPHER ROBIN is final title of previous UNTITLED CHRISTOPHER ROBIN PROJECT — previously announced date of 8/3/18 is unchanged

MULAN previously dated on 11/2/18 moves to 3/27/20

UNTITLED DISNEYTOON STUDIOS previously dated on 4/12/19 is now removed from schedule

PENGUINS (DISNEYNATURE) now dated on 4/19/19

UNTITLED DISNEY LIVE ACTION now dated on 10/4/19

NICOLE previously dated on 11/8/19 is now removed from schedule

UNTITLED DISNEY LIVE ACTION now dated on 11/8/19

UNTITLED DISNEY LIVE ACTION now dated on 2/14/20

UNTITLED PIXAR ANIMATION previously dated on 3/13/20 moves to 3/6/20

UNTITLED DISNEY LIVE ACTION previously dated on 4/3/20 moves to 5/29/20

UNTITLED MARVEL previously dated 8/7/20 moves to 7/31/20

UNTITLED DISNEY LIVE ACTION now dated 10/9/20

UNTITLED DISNEY LIVE ACTION now dated 12/23/20

UNTITLED DISNEY LIVE ACTION now dated 2/12/21

UNTITLED MARVEL now dated on 5/7/21

UNTITLED DISNEY LIVE ACTION now dated on 5/28/21

UNTITLED DISNEY LIVE ACTION now dated on 7/9/21

UNTITLED MARVEL now dated on 7/30/21

UNTITLED DISNEY LIVE ACTION now dated 10/8/21

UNTITLED MARVEL now dated on 11/5/21

UNTITLED DISNEY LIVE ACTION now dated on 12/22/21

UNTITLED MARVEL now dated on 2/18/22

UNTITLED PIXAR now dated on 3/18/22

UNTITLED MARVEL now dated on 5/6/22

UNTITLED DISNEY LIVE ACTION now dated on 5/27/22

UNTITLED PIXAR now dated on 6/17/22

UNTITLED DISNEY LIVE ACTION now dated on 7/8/22

UNTITLED MARVEL now dated on 7/29/22

UNTITLED DISNEY LIVE ACTION now dated on 10/7/22

UNTITLED DISNEY LIVE ACTION now dated on 11/4/22

UNTITLED DISNEY ANIMATION now dated on 11/23/22

UNTITLED DISNEY LIVE ACTION now dated on 12/16/22

UNTITLED DISNEY LIVE ACTION now dated on 2/17/23

OK, not super interesting, minus - goddamn - a 1.5 year delay for Mulan, but I’m guessing that Marvel Studios has Phase 4 all figured out, yeah?

Sure hope that after Avengers 4, we get a cool press conference like the one which announced Phase 3.

AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR Now Out April 27th

After a lengthy Twitter conversation between Marvel Studios and Robert Downey Jr. (or their respective social media people)…

Recalibrate your MCU Marathon plans accordingly.

Neil Gaiman Returns to DC Comics to Build THE SANDMAN UNIVERSE

Entertainment Weekly:

Given how much of an evergreen sale that The Sandman is, it’s a very smart move for DC to have books on the shelves that live and breathe in the same world.

Toyark Reviews Bandai’s PACIFIC RIM: UPRISING Figures

The Toyark:

The first round of releases includes Gipsy Avenger, Titan Redeemer, and Bracer Phoenix in the 6"³ scale Robot Spirits line. For the SOFVI Spirits, we have Raijin, one of the featured Kaiju from the trailers for the film. Bluefin has provided us with the figures, and we have 90 photos and a full review.

These look SO goddamned good.

The only thing I’m on the fence about is having figures which - while are of awesome looking robots - are from a not so great movie.

A Whole Slue of Photos from WESTWORLD Season 2

Entertainment Weekly got em all, because they’re all under the Time Warner umbrella.

Looking good! Bring on April!

Twitter Wants Help With Its Toxicity’ Problem

Engadget:

The optimist in me says: I’m glad to see Twitter doing this.

The cynic in me says: This is an empty gesture.

The pessimist in me says: This will not make things better, this will make them worse.

I wonder how many people are filling out this form with simply: “Delete your account, bitch.“

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN Gets a 'Fresh Start' with Spencer & Ottley [UPDATED]

comicbook.com

Spencer isn’t everyone’s favorite writer due to how he handled his run of Captain America, but his work on Superior Foes of Spider-Man was really goddamned great. Add Ottley delivering great art, and this could be a great run for Spidey.

These “Fresh Start" titles are looking better and better.

UPDATE: 11:46am

Marvel.com has posted an interview with Ryan Ottley which includes a look at the pencils for the first issue.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Taco Bell Brings Back NAKED EGG TACO, Tests TOASTED CHEESE CHALUPA

Brand Eating:

The Toasted Cheese Chalupa kinda reminds me of an Asiago Bagel, but, y’know, a taco.

The Sculpting of a Creepily Realistic DOC BROWN from BACK TO THE FUTURE

www.youtube.com/watch

I don’t really understand ASMR, but if the calm those people get is similar to the calm I had watching this incredible undertaking, I think I get ASMR now.

Pitt & DiCaprio to Headline Tarantino’s ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD

The Hollywood Reporter:

Tarantino describes it as “a story that takes place in Los Angeles in 1969, at the height of hippy Hollywood. The two lead characters are Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), former star of a Western TV series, and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt). Both are struggling to make it in a Hollywood they don’t recognize anymore. But Rick has a very famous next-door neighbor…Sharon Tate.“

That’s some serious star power!

Kristen Wiig’s Next Role? WONDER WOMAN 2 [Updated]

Variety:

That said, Patty Jenkins knocked the first Wonder Woman out of the park, so maybe she knows something which I don’t.

Update: March 9th, 10:38am EST

Patty Jenkins has taken to Twitter to confirm the casting:

twitter.com/PattyJenk…

Here Come The MEN IN BLACK…And Thor

The Hollywood Reporter:

F. Gary Gray, who directed last year’s Fate of the Furious, is due to helm the movie, which has a script by Iron Man writers Matt Holloway and Art Marcum. The film is slated for release on June 14, 2019

Hemsworth’s appearances in Ghostbusters and Thor: Ragnarok make it clear he can balance comedy and action. I’d be for this.

By the way, this whole idea of exploring a franchise with unrelated characters, without impacting the originals directly? I’m into it.

Worked for Jumanji, worked for 21 Jump Street, can work here.

Welcome Brigitte to OVERWATCH

PlayOverwatch.com:

The youngest of TorbjÁ¶rn’s daughters, Brigitte is an adventurer who travels with her godfather—Reinhardt Wilhelm—to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. Previously, she aided Reinhardt by repairing his armor but as time has passed, Brigitte has realized that there is some damage that her hammer cannot fix. Her desire to help stronger than ever, Reinhardt is training her to fight while she built her own armor in secret. Now she fights alongside him on the front line, where she can make an even bigger difference.

Another support character enters the fray!

Twitter Adds 'Bookmarks'

Twitter Blog:

Hello, Bookmarks!

Today, we’re introducing Bookmarks, an easy way to save Tweets for quick access later. But wait, there’s more! Today’s update makes sharing better, too. With our new “share" icon on every Tweet, you’ll be able to bookmark a Tweet, share via Direct Message, or share off of Twitter any number of ways. Because we put all sharing actions together in one place, it’s easier to save and share privately or publicly — in the moment, or later.

For me, this is why I use Instapaper, or star items in my RSS Reader.

But if you’re all in on Twitter (and I know some people use Twitter as their RSS replacement), this is probably awesome for you.

Now, Twitter, about the hate speech, privacy issues, the death of your Mac app, whatever Trump did today…

'Facebook's algorithm has wiped out a once flourishing digital publisher'

Business Insider:

The women-focused publisher LittleThings is shutting its doors, in large part because of Facebook’s recent move, the company’s CEO, Joe Speiser, told Business Insider.

We’ve gotta get away from Facebook. posts this blog to both Facebook and Twitter

#FastFoodArmsRace: Disney Toys Return To McDonald’s Happy Meals

USA Today:

The cross-promotional campaign starts in June, when Happy Meals will begin to include Incredibles 2 toys.

The “promotional alliance" — announced Tuesday — pairs the children’s meal with movies from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Disney Live Action, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm.

First time Disney has had their properties in Happy Meals since 2006.

Fingers crossed for Star Wars and Avengers Happy Meals in 2019.

You know that cool font from the BLACK PANTHER credits?

Kottke.org:

Click through to get the details and buy the font.

I feel like many of my friends will make good use of this.

PlayStation Plus Lineup for March 2018

PlayStation Blog:

First up, we have the award-winning action RPG Bloodborne. Hunt your nightmares as you search for answers in the ancient city of Yharnam, now cursed with a strange endemic illness spreading through the streets like wildfire. Danger, death and madness lurk around every corner of this dark and horrific world, and you must discover its darkest secrets in order to survive.

Next, we have Ratchet & Clank. Get acquainted (or reacquainted) with some of the greatest heroes in PlayStation history. Based on elements from the original Ratchet & Clank (PS2), Ratchet & Clank brings Insomniac’s classic, out-of-this-world-gameplay to the PS4. Join Ratchet, Clank, Captain Qwark, and their new friends as they battle to save the Solana Galaxy. Armed with an arsenal of original weapons the franchise is renowned for, including the new Pixelizer and fan-favorites like the dance-party-inducing Groovitron, you’ll explore the galaxy and get a deeper look at the origin story of these two beloved characters.

This month’s PlayStation Plus lineup also includes:

“¢ Legend of Kay, PS3

“¢ Mighty No. 9, PS3 (Cross Buy with PS4)

“¢ Claire: Extended Cut, PS Vita (Cross Buy with PS4)

“¢ Bombing Busters, PS Vita (Cross Buy with PS4)

Goddamn, Ratchet & Clank and Bloodborne? Killer month.

Also of note, as of March 2019, PS Plus moves to being PS4 games only.

Ta-Nehisi Coates To Write CAPTAIN AMERICA, Launching July 4

The Atlantic:

Coates writing, Alex Ross on covers, Leinil Yu on art.

Based on Coates’ article, he’s got a lot of ideas for the series and what exactly Captain America means, and I can’t wait to see what he has in store.

Bring on the LADY BIRD Cinematic Universe

Vulture, reporting based on movies studio A24’s new podcast:

Given that I loved Lady Bird, both as a film and as a wonderful piece of nostalgia for the era in which I graduated high school, I’m all for this.

GQ Discovers What Happened To Brendan Fraser

GQ:

Tip of the hat to my dude Ross on this one.

Fraser was a dude I always liked - particularly his work in Blast from the Past, the first Mummy movie and his heartbreaking appearance in an early season of Scrubs. To hear how hard the past decade was for him is pretty heartbreaking, and says a lot about the “legacy” of Hollywood stars. Worthy read.

Teaser Trailer for RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET: WRECK-IT RALPH 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIBw9dSVKdU

Walt Disney Animation on YouTube:

I absolutely loved Wreck-It Ralph. This looks to be just as delightful a takedown of the Internet as the first was to video games.

An Oral History of Last Year’s Oscar Best Picture Snafu

The Hollywood Reporter:

I’ll be honest, these days, I see “oral history" and I immediately add it to my Instapaper.

But this one? Definite unique insight into how a major award show works, and more importantly - how they react when things go terribly wrong in front of millions.

Hasbro’s Marvel Legends Figures for AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR Revealed!

Kotaku:

I do really like that Spider-Man. And it’s nice to see the “face printing" technology used on the rest of the MCU cast.

Will you be going out to pick up the first series this weekend?

Tom DeLonge Gave Up Punk Rock for UFOs. Here’s His Story.

The FADER:

I wasn’t really what you’d call a Blink 182 fan, but I sure find it fascinating that this dude gave up his entire musical career to seek out truth on what may would call an insane obsession.

A Brief Guide To Marvel’s Four Relaunches Since 2015

io9:

If you need an example of why Marvel’s comics have become inaccessible to new readers (and why I’ve moved to just reading things on Marvel Unlimited), here you go.

And yes. That is an average of relaunch a year.

'Barack Obama isn’t happy with Facebook and Google, either'

recode:

“I do think the large platforms — Google and Facebook being the most obvious, Twitter and others as well, are part of that ecosystem — have to have a conversation about their business model that recognizes they are a public good as well as a commercial enterprise,“ the former president said at MIT’s Sloan Sports Conference last Friday. “They’re not just an invisible platform, they’re shaping our culture in powerful ways.“

I do not disagree, Barry O. I do not disagree.

Fox Is Still Working on FANTASTIC FOUR and X-MEN Movies, Disney Be Damned

The Hollywood Reporter:

That Silver Surfer movie? Yeah, it’s being written by Brian K. Vaughan (Saga). I said goddamn.

THE ROCKETEER To Return as a Disney Junior Cartoon

Deadline:

The Rocketeer follows Kit, a young girl who receives a surprise package on her birthday revealing that she’s next in line to become the Rocketeer, a legendary superhero who has the ability to fly with the help of a rocket-powered jet pack. Armed with her cool new gear and secret identity, Kit is ready to take flight and save the day with her gadget-minded best friend, Tesh, and airplane-mechanic uncle, Ambrose, who join her on epic adventures.

I remember there was a rumor of a female-lead Rocketeer movie a bit back, but I’m glad to see that the idea didn’t totally die on the vine.

THE NEW YORKER Profiles Donald Glover

New Yorker:

After reading this, you will feel that…

a. Donald Glover is the coolest human alive.

b. Donald Glover is the most frustrating human alive.

c. A little bit of both.

I need to watch Atlanta already.

Official Teaser for HBO’s FAHRENHEIT 451

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEhsFEgsI5U

HBO on YouTube:

Honestly, for me, I’d just need to know that the two Michaels are in this, and I’d be there.

[insert “BURN IT ALL” joke here]

FilmStruck Adds Countless WB Classics to Film Library

EW.com:

The streaming service is partnering with Warner Bros. Digital Networks to expand its film library to include many of the biggest hits from the golden age of Hollywood. Already a home to art house, indie, foreign, and cult films rarely available anywhere else, FilmStruck will now offer a myriad of classic Hollywood films often missing from other streaming platforms like Hulu and Netflix.

Beginning Monday, Feb. 26, subscribers will have access to films from the Warner Bros. classic film library, including Casablanca, Citizen Kane, Singin’ In the Rain, The Thin Man, Bringing Up Baby, Rebel Without a Cause, and more.

Really an awesome idea for FilmStruck, making it the platform for cinephiles. Anyone I know have experience using the service, especially on tvOS?

Annihilation (2018): A Review

When novelist and screenplay writer Alex Garland finally took the reigns behind the camera with 2015’s Ex Machina, many wondered if we were seeing the birth of a sci-fi auteur for a new era.

I’m pleased to say that after sitting down for a screening of this weekend’s new release Annihilation, Garland has taken the novel by Jeff VanderMeer, produced an instant classic, and has created a movie which underlines him as the voice of modern sci-fi cinema.

The film stars Natalie Portman (Jackie) as Lena, a a professor of cellular biology at Johns Hopkins (clearly not filmed there). Her husband, played by Oscar Issac, is presumed KIA after never returning home from a top secret military operation. Over a year passes, and one day, he returns, clearly not himself.

Where was he? What happened? The search for those answers, although never clearly illuminated for Lena, leads her to join a group exploring the location of the military operation - a space called “Area X".

“Area X" was a lighthouse in a state park, which once a meteor collided with it, became enraptured in what is called “The Shimmer", a bioluminescent glow - similar to the rainbow shine found on rainy pavement. Many have gone in, none have gone out. And Lena - alongside four other women, Anya (Gina Rodriguez), Josie (Tessa Thompson), Cass (Tuva Novotny), and the leader of the “Area X" project, Dr. Ventress (Jennifer Jason Leigh) - will now go in to discover its mysteries, its truths, and its horrors, for herself.

The story which follows mashes elements of Alien, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and most of all, John Carpenter’s The Thing into a filmgoing experience which feels incredibly creepy, enthralling, and somehow wholly new. The stunning visuals provided by cinematographer Rob Hardy and the visual effects team are equal parts horrific and beautiful - bringing to mind the most horrifying creations of the television version of Hannibal and yet also some of the most breathtaking floral presentations you’ve ever seen. Each frame is a delight for the eyes, even in moments where you wish to pull yourself away. It’s wrapped in a score by Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow, which includes beautiful acoustic guitar and horrifying ambient noises. The light and the dark live on in every second, and its only amplified by this score.

For 115 minutes, this movie took me on a true journey, one of life, discovery, shock and gut-wrenching terror - and it leaves you wish just enough to dissect, discuss and take apart for years to come. Annihilation will stand the test of time.

This is where I make a hard ask of you, dear reader.

If you’re reading this post, chances are it’s because you love movies like The Thing, Alien and 2001. You like to be challenged. You like movies that don’t give you the easy out, the clear solution. You need to see this movie in theaters so more like it get made. That, or you’ll risk not being that nerd at the table 5 years from now being able to see “You saw it on Netflix? I saw it on the big screen, like it was supposed to be seen.“

Highest possible recommendation.

Annihilation is in theaters now. Grab tickets right now via Fandango, or pre-order it today via iTunes.

Apple Rumored To Be Working On Airpod-Like’ Over-Ear Headphones

MacRumors:

As someone who loves his Beats Solo 3 Wireless Headphones and his AirPods, and has been looking into the Beats Studio 3 Wireless (there are some political conversations at work I’d very much like to have noise-cancelling for), I would love to see what Apple wants to bring into this space.

Even if Beats/Apple are kinda the same now.

'Judge dismisses coal mogul’s defamation lawsuit against John Oliver'

The Hill:

In a decision dated Wednesday, West Virginia Judge Jeffrey Cramer accepted HBO’s argument that Bob Murray, CEO of coal mining giant Murray Energy Corp., failed to show that Oliver had defamed him according to the law.

With the return of Last Week Tonight last weekend, I actually was wondering what the status of this lawsuit was.

Frankly, I was concerned that this was going to spiral into something much bigger, where the rich assholes of the world get to dictate what humor is made at their expense.

Thankfully for us, judges like Jeffrey Cramer understand comedy.

Want More Save Slots for METAL GEAR SURVIVE? That’ll be $10.

Polygon:

Go fuck yourself, Konami.

It’s bad enough you’re fucking the corpse of a game you killed off, now you’re asking us to pay you for standard features.

And it’s not like these saves are backed up on the cloud or anything, they’re on your goddamned machine.

Was this a game I was going to buy before this? Christ no, what they did to Kojima was horrible. But now? Especially not going to buy it.

Microtransactions were a mistake. They’re nothing but trash.

Disney Channel Greenlights 2 Series: AMPHIBIA and THE OWL HOUSE

ComingSoon:

Amphibia is a comedy series that chronicles the adventures of 13-year-old, self-centered Anne Boonchuy who is magically transported to the fictitious world of Amphibia, a rural marshland full of frog-people. With the help of an excitable young frog named Sprig, Anne will transform into a hero and discover the first true friendship of her life. The series is from Annie Award-winning director Matt Braly (Gravity Falls) who will also executive produce.

The Owl House is a horror-comedy series that follows Luz, a self-assured teenage human girl who accidentally stumbles upon a portal to the Demon Realm where she befriends a rebellious witch, Eda, and an adorably tiny warrior, King. Despite not having magical abilities, Luz pursues her dream of becoming a witch by serving as Eda’s apprentice at the Owl House and ultimately finds a new family in an unlikely setting. The series is from Dana Terrace, one of Variety’s “10 Animators to Watch" whose credits include Disney’s DuckTales and Gravity Falls. Terrace will also serve as executive producer.

Can we talk about how unbelievably cool these two shows sound?

I’m suddenly glad I have cable again.

Also: I need to watch Gravity Falls.

BARRY on HBO: 'It’s A Job' Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b09aJdWqVp4

HBO on YouTube:

Bill Hader is one of my all time favorite comedic actors, and this looks fantastic.

I can’t wait to see what his incredibly unique mind has in store for us as viewers.

Kingsman: The Secret Service — MAFEX Gary 'Eggsy' Unwin

The Toyark:

Surprised it has taken this long for Kingsman to get a proper action figure.

Looks good!

Rough House Podcast - Episode 64

Libsyn:

NSFW for language, but if you’d like to check out the rasslin’ podcast I’m a part of, here’s our latest episode, as we go home for WWE Elmination Chamber this weekend.

The Story of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Is Getting A Movie

Variety:

Fox Searchlight nabbed the project in what was a highly competitive sale, with multiple studios vying for the project.

The film follows Montanez, the son of an immigrant, who grew up as a migrant farm worker picking grapes in the fields of Southern California before becoming a janitor at Frito-Lay. It was while working at the company that Montanez came up with the idea to create Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, transforming the Frito-Lay brand into a pop culture phenomenon and disrupting the entire food industry in the process. Now commonly referred to as the Godfather of Multicultural Marketing, it was that initial idea that would spark a billion-dollar brand and catapult him from janitor to elite corporate executive.

I know, I know - the #FastFoodArmsRace has collided with, well, the rest of this site!

That said - doesn’t that description actually sound like an interesting story? I didn’t realize that the history of that flavor of Cheetos was so compelling.

Reggie and the Full Effect’s New Album, “41

Apple Music:

  1. il Sniffy Incontra
  2. il Pesce Svedese
  3. Alone Again
  4. Broke Down
  5. Heartbreak
  6. Karate School
  7. The Horrible Year
  8. New Years Day
  9. Maggie
  10. Channing Tatum Space Rollerblading Montage Music (feat. Fluxation)
  11. You’ve Got Secrets
  12. Trap(ing) Music (feat. Common Denominator)
  13. And Next with Feeling
  14. Off Delaware

Always enjoy another release from James DeWees. The Adele spoof is a ten.

My Friday AM listening is locked in.

Joss Whedon’s Off the BATGIRL Movie

The Hollywood Reporter:

Whedon, the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer among other pop culture touchstones, is exiting the Warner Bros. feature project, which he was writing and was slated to direct.

“Batgirl is such an exciting project, and Warners/DC such collaborative and supportive partners, that it took me months to realize I really didn’t have a story,“ Whedon told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement. Referring to DC president Geoff Johns and Warner Bros. Picture Group president Toby Emmerich, Whedon added, “I’m grateful to Geoff and Toby and everyone who was so welcoming when I arrived, and so understanding when I…uh, is there a sexier word for ‘failed?'"

Question: Is this due to…

Either way, this wasn’t looking to follow the great Stewart/Fletcher/Tarr run of Batgirl, so I’m crying zero tears over here.

I’d like to echo my Twitter friend Eden here - what about Greta Gerwig?

#FastFoodArmsRace: Olive Garden’s Meatball Pizza Bowl

Foodbeast:

As part of their Lunch Duo special, Olive Garden has introduced a new Meatball Pizza Bowl diners can try to conquer during their lunch break.

The Meatball Pizza bowl begins as a simple crust made of pizza dough that’s then molded into a vessel for the saucy, meaty goodness that awaited us.

Here I thought that the Italian Nachos would be the most ridiculous item Olive Garden would throw at us. Instead, they’ve decided to answer the question: “What if a Stromboli was a KFC Famous Bowl?“

Disney Reveals More On STAR WARS Resort

Disney Parks Blog:

This first-of-its-kind resort will combine luxury with complete immersion into an authentic Star Wars story. Guests’ journey through space will start when everyone departs together for a multiday Stars Wars adventure by boarding a starship alive with characters and stories that unfold all around them during a voyage through the galaxy.

This looks buck freaking wild.

We’re getting ever closer to Westworld. Hopefully the robots won’t kill the people at this resort.

SUPER MARIO ODYSSEY Gets A Free Update, Featuring Luigi and More!

Nintendo:

Luigi’s Balloon World

After downloading the update and beating the main story, Luigi will now show up in different kingdoms to give Mario a new challenge. To start Balloon World (Internet access required)*, seek out the green-clad bro and have a nice chat with him. There are two modes in Balloon World: “Hide It" mode lets you hide a balloon somewhere in that kingdom, while “Find It" mode challenges you to find balloons hidden by other players from around the world. If you get good at hiding and finding balloons, you’ll also move up the online rankings!

New Outfits and Filters

Balloon World isn’t the only update today: new outfits for Mario and new filters for Snapshot Mode have also been added. There are a couple different options so be sure to check them all out! Hopefully the new gold coin filter will lead to a gold mine of new photo ops.

Definitely surprised that this was free.

I’ll be honest - if Nintendo wants to look into some Breath of the Wild-esq DLC for Odyssey, I would be there day one.

#FastFoodArmsRace: McDonald’s Australia Brings On The Big Brekkie Burger

Chew Boom:

The Big Brekkie Burger features a beef patty, freshly cracked egg, bacon, melting cheese and a crisp hash brown all topped with a dollop of BBQ sauce and served on a toasted sesame seed bun.

Besides the fact that this burger has a wonderfully Australian name, I’m surprised that the American version of McDonald’s hasn’t tried to mix and match their breakfast foods, considering their somewhat recent shift to all-day breakfast.

A man can dream.

All the Image Expo 2018 Announcements

Bleeding Cool probably did the best job of condensing all of Image Comics’ announcements from yesterday’s Image Expo 2018.

Really a great, diverse mix of titles, delighted to see announcements from Annie Wu, Jen Bartel, and to see Michael Fiffe probably get to live a dream of writing/drawing a Rob Liefeld team book.

I continue to love how Image makes a big deal of announcing new titles and handling them like an Apple Keynote. DC and Marvel would do well to ape this format.

JURASSIC WORLD 3 Set for June 2021

ComingSoon:

I’m guessing they’ve seen a cut of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom which wa good. Because the trailers sure haven’t been!

#FastFoodArmsRace: Burger King Spain Gives Us, uh, Mozzarella Stick Discs

Brand Eating:

The menu item features bite-sized breaded and fried discs of tomato sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. The breading includes a touch of oregano for added flavor.

So, basically, if you ever felt like dipping Mozzarella Sticks was too hard, it’s now a lot easier for you in Spain.

The Muppets To Return on Disney’s Streaming Service

The Hollywood Reporter:

Headed by OTT programming chief Agnes Chu, the as-yet-unnamed service — envisioned as a competitor to Netflix — will be a home for family-friendly fare including Marvel feature films and such TV series as a live-action Star Wars (with multiple variations already in the works, per CEO Bob Iger) and, sources tell THR, a reboot of The Muppets.

I think that this would make for a great addition to the streaming service, but only if they attach someone to the project to run it who truly lives and breathes the Muppets. Practically everything since 2011’s The Muppets has been a wreck, and I’m pretty sure it’s because those projects didn’t have a Jason Siegel behind it - i.e., someone who absolutely adored the property.

Additional note - the above article also mentions that reboots of The Parent Trap, Father of the Bride, and Honey, I Shrunk The Kids are being eyed for Disney’s streaming service…which better be called “The Disney Vault".

SILICON VALLEY's Official Season 5 Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cZFPRrRN_g

YouTube:

Having binged the four prior seasons over the past year, I’m excited to finally be able to watch a season of Silicon Valley as it airs.

Looks like another good year for the Pied Piper boys.

ALTO’S ODYSSEY Hits The App Store

iTunes App Store:

Join Alto and his friends and set off on an endless sandboarding journey to discover its secrets.

Soar above windswept dunes, traverse thrilling canyons, and explore long-hidden temples in a fantastical place far from home.

Along the way, you’ll grind across vines, bounce atop hot air balloons, ride towering rock walls, and escape mischievous lemurs — all while uncovering the desert’s many mysteries.

A sequel to easily my favorite iOS game of all time, Alto’s Adventure, I was pleasantly surprised to see Alto’s Odyssey hit the App Store a day early - and not just because I’m home sick today.

The beautiful minimal style (in both art and music) continues here, and the gameplay is brilliantly refined, especially for being controlled by one touch. Definitely worth the cost of a latte.

iMore has a great interview with the creators about the game, which I recommend reading if you’re a fan of either title.

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG Hits Theaters in 2019

The Hollywood Reporter:

The Paramount film, based on the popular SEGA videogame character, will open Nov. 15, 2019.

Neal H. Moritz is producing the project, with Deadpool director Tim Miller executive producing. Also executive producing is Toby Ascher, while Dmitri Johnson and Dan Jevons will serve as co-producers.

Sonic will be directed by Jeff Fowler, who is making his directorial debut with the project. Paramount is planning a mix of live action and CGI to bring the character to life.

They’ll definitely have to move fast (ha!) on this one, especially since Universal/Illumination are working on a Super Mario Bros. movie.

Key number one to making a Sonic the Hedgehog movie work: No kissing humans.

Legion - Season 2, All In Your Head’ Preview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_s1M-rkDO8Q

YouTube:

Can’t wait for this! The first season of Legion is up there as one of the coolest television series I’ve ever seen.

Between this and Westworld, April is going to be a good month for returning shows.

DOCTOR WHO Gets A New Logo

BBC America:

I really dig it. Would love to hear my designer friends’ takes, however.

Marvel’s Jessica Jones - Season 2 | Trailer: Her Way

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL4Fo6dJ3o8

YouTube:

LOVED the first season of Jessica Jones, so I’m looking forward to watching this season next month.

Once I finish Luke Cage. And watch all of Iron Fist. And all of The Defenders. And all of The Punisher.

I’m the worst nerd.

'Jessica Chastain in Talks to Star in It’ Sequel'

Variety:

Director Andy Muschietti is back to direct. Gary Dauberman will pen the script. Beverly was played by Sophia Lillis in the 2017 horror hit.

Could not be more perfect of a choice. I hope the i’s are dotted and t’s crossed.

'Marvel Announces New 'Venom' Series'

ComicBook.com:

This May, Marvel Comics will launch Venom #1 from Donny Cates (Doctor Strange, Thanos) and Ryan Stegman (Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows, Uncanny Avengers). Eddie Brock has recently been protecting the streets of New York City, but this new series sees Venom tasked with taking on a 1000-year-old primordial threat.

Yet another “Fresh Start” announcement.

I do love Ryan Stegman’s art quite a bit, but Venom in a non-Spider-Man related capacity has always bored me. Also, taking him out of NYC and going supernatural doesn’t sound that great either. So, who is this comic for, guys?

#FastFoodArmsRace: IHOP Debuts Tuxedo Pancakes’

Brand Eating:

That mousse on top may be the most unappealing thing I’ve ever seen. Jesus God.

’The Marvel Movie Graph"Š—"Š5 Years Later’

Peter Olson on Medium.com:

You can’t go home again (or at least you probably shouldn’t), but with the upcoming release of Black Panther I thought it would be fun to look at how the landscape of Marvel movies has changed since the original graph.

Thanks to my dude Ross for the hat-tip here. This is some really cool data visualization.

Also of note, at the time of this post, the article has 69 claps. Don’t screw this up for me, Internet.

’Burnout Paradise gets a PS4 Remaster March 16’

Playstation.Blog:

Very cool to see the Burnout franchise return for modern consoles. I really would’ve preferred a remake of Burnout 3: Takedown or Burnout Revenge, however.

'Avengers #1 Spearheads Marvel Comics' Next Relaunch'

IGN:

Well there’s your first reveal of the “Fresh Start” initiative. Really dig the combo of Aaron and McGuinness on the title, and I also love the MCU-inspired lineup. I’ll give it a read for sure.

Marvel Comics promises a Fresh Start’

www.youtube.com/watch

Polygon:

Featuring Marvel Comics editor in chief C.B. Cebulski and chief creative officer Joe Quesada, the video is short on concrete information — though Marvel tells Polygon that more will be revealed later today and in the coming weeks.

While Cebulski’s promotion to editor in chief came with more than a little bit of controversy, I certainly hope this “Fresh Start" is the shot in the arm that Marvel needs, which has been an absolute slog to read compared to the nimble of the post “Rebirth" DC Comics.

I’m hoping that Marvel learns that the issue wasn’t the diversity and change of characters in their titles, but rather the far-too-connected nature of the comics, with everything being tied to a line-wide story arc which “changes everything!!!“

Here’s to being optimistic. I’ll read it all in 6 months via Marvel Unlimited.

Tuesday night plans set.

Can’t wait to rewatch this one, and all the extras too.

''Just an Ass-Backward Tech Company': How Twitter Lost The Internet War'

Vanity Fair:

#FastFoodArmsRace: Krispy Kreme Hershey’s Gold Doughnut

The Impulsive Buy:

The Hershey’s Gold Doughnut is a Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Doughnut topped with pieces of a Hershey’s Gold Bar and a salted caramel icing.

I haven’t yet had a Hershey’s Gold Bar, so I have no idea how this will work as a donut, but it does include Pretzels and Caramel, two of my favorite things.

Has anyone gotten Apollo Ohno’s take?

#FastFoodArmsRace: Pepsi Reinvents Bottled Water with 'Drinkfinity'

Co.Design:

The new product line, called Drinkfinity, is a clear reaction to consumers drinking less soda. Over the past 20 years, sales of non-diet soda have fallen by more than 25%. As a result, PepsiCo and its competitors have turned their attention to bottle water and other types of drinks—though the company’s executives prefer to frame the shift in their priorities as giving customers more choices rather than combating the decline of soda. That’s where Drinkfinity comes in, as another healthy option in the company’s portfolio. The name is meant to indicate that there are infinite combinations of drinks you could make with the bottle and the flavor pods. The Drinkfinity team’s ultimate aspiration is that consumers go online, choose all the ingredients they want, and have personalized pods shipped to their door—a vision that reacts to several consumer trends, including on-demand services and healthy living.

So it’s all of the good intentions of drinking water, mixed with the wastefulness of a Keurig cup. Lovely.

#FastFoodArmsRace: McDonald’s Szechuan Sauce Coming Back This Month [Updated]

Heavy.com:

Good news! Now the terrible fans of a wonderful show can finally shut the fuck up.

UPDATE - February 21, 2018 - 1:53pm

McDonald’s has confirmed the return with a specific sub-site dedicated to it…and…a podcast about it. Weird.

’Black Panther's Director Ryan Coogler Breaks Down a Fight Scene’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNHc2PxY8lY

YouTube:

One of the best sequences in Black Panther was this great, James Bond-esq fight scene in a casino. Love seeing directors explain how sequences such like these are created.

How lucky must the next generation of filmmakers be, to have all of these details made so readily available to them online?

1000toys has a new IRON GIANT figure

1000toys.jp:

Looks like an absolutely gorgeous toy, and the idea of a big Iron Giant out of metal sure is appealing. But…for $120? I can’t swing that.

…unless I win Powerball…oh yes.

’Star Wars: The Last Jedi Comes Home’

StarWars.com:

As usual, a bunch of retailers have exclusive versions, but I’m most excited that The Last Jedi will be the first Star Wars film available in 4K.

Suddenly glad that I own a 4K HDR TV and an Apple TV 4K now.

'The Veni, Vindi, Vici of Voice'

WIRED:

Three separate epiphanies got me thinking about this pivot to voice, and while they are highly personal, it turns out there are real numbers behind the anecdata.

New piece by Antonio GarcÁ­a MartÁ­nez on how damned important voice has become to tech.

'Prime Members Now Earn 5% Back When Shopping at Whole Foods Market Using the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card'

BusinessWire:

Amazon continues their conquering of the world by tying themselves ever closer to their new grocery store.

’Winter Olympic Venues built from LEGO bricks’

The Brothers Brick:

Really impressive work by a bunch of LEGO modelers here. As someone who has been watching far too much of the Winter Olympics, this put the chocolate into my peanut butter.

’Want To See All Of Disneyland In A Day? Being A Video Game Speedrunner Helps’

Digg:

On the morning of Sunday, February 11th, Jae Kaplan walked from her Anaheim hotel to the Disneyland entrance and waited at the main gates. For her, time was of the essence. At 7:43 a.m., park staff ushered Kaplan and the other early risers through the gate and down Main Street. By 8:07, Kaplan was done with her first ride of the day, Peter Pan’s Flight in Fantasyland. She had 50 more attractions to see. She had just under 16 hours to go until the park closed. She had it all planned out.

She had come to speedrun Disneyland.

Really fun long read from Digg, which I’m more accustomed to as a great link blog. As someone who is planning a Disney trip (my first!) for the Fall, I’m definitely going to take notes.

’Radiohead Announce North American Summer Tour’

Stereogum:

I’d absolutely love to see them live again (especially as my prior experience was so bad), but…

Probably not seeing them this go!

’Doom on Switch may have changed everything with new motion controls’

Ars Technica:

Wait, what? Is this some sort of Wii-like waggle thing?

Far from it, turns out. id Software has surprisingly borrowed a page from Nintendo’s playbook—but in doing so has also delivered a first for a first-person shooter.

As someone who LOVES Splatoon 2’s use of motion controls on the Switch, I may need to find a way to rent or try how it’s been implemented in Doom.

’Oni’s The Long Con Explores Post-Apocalyptic Comic Con Culture’

CBR:

Five years ago, a cataclysmic event obliterated everything within a 50-mile radius of the Los Spinoza Convention Center — including the attendees of Long Con, the world’s biggest (and longest) comic convention. But unknown to the outside world, the con-goers not only survived, they kept the convention going. When proof of their survival surfaces, reporter Victor Lai is sent to investigate — after all, he was covering the con that fateful day and escaped mere minutes before everything went kablooie… abandoning his nerdy pal Dez in the process. So clearly he’s the perfect person for the job, and he won’t get trapped inside like some kinda idiot. Right?

What a brilliant idea for a comic. As someone who goes to conventions all the time, my only regret is that I didn’t think of it first.

'Mega Man Legacy Collection 1 + 2 slide on to Nintendo Switch on May 22nd!'

Capcom-Unity Blog:

Happy to see the Mega Man series get such a nice treatment, especially on the Switch, but this whole “buy a retail package, but only one of the games is on a cart, and you have to download the other" thing is for the birds.

It’s my only complaint about the Bayonetta re-release.

HasLab Star Wars: Jabba's Sail Barge

HasLab:

Clever idea unveiled by Hasbro this year at Toy Fair, essentially making fan-requested items to order, as a psuedo-Kickstarter.

$500 is too rich for my blood (and I don’t have nearly the space nor collection anymore to justify it), but as they’re already 1200 backers deep into the 5000 they need, I think this is the beginning of something big for the toymaker.

New EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Print by Jock, for Mondo [Updated]

Jock on Twitter:

Jock, best known as a comic artist (although he did do some visualization work for The Last Jedi) really knocked it out of the park on this one.

Of course, he usually does. See his prints for Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, among others.

UPDATE: 3:01pm

Mondo:

At $60, it’s pretty tempting. Check out the cool limited variant ($80) below.

Super Mario Bros Encyclopedia Comes to the US, October 23rd

Engadget:

Considering my newly found Nintendo fanboy-ism, I’m going to have to pick it up.

It’s up for pre-order now on Amazon.

As are those three Zelda books I’ve neglected to buy. [1] [2] [3]. To the wishlist!

'Trump vs. The World: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCjk_NPsIqU

YouTube:

Goddamn, I’ve missed you, John. We’ve all missed you. Welcome back.

I can’t wait to watch this full episode tonight.

'Batman: Overdrive - a Comic With a Millennial Bruce Wayne'

Bleeding Cool

Talking it up at the American Library Association announcement of the DC Ink and DC Zoom lines, Batman Overdrive will feature a fifteen-year-old Bruce Wayne, a Millennial, born in 2004… and who finds a car in his late parents’ basement, a month before his sixteenth birthday — a car that his father had when he was sixteen. And so, with the help of his friends, he decides to restore the car, and then customise it, into the Batmobile. It’s a new origin of the Batman with a more vehicular origin.

At the least, this has to be better than the entirety of Gotham, right?

Some Quick Thoughts on 'Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle'

Since the movie has been out for two months and made nearly a BILLION dollars, I’m going to hold off from writing a full review of this one.

Let’s face it - you probably already knew if you wanted to see it.

That said, here’s some quick fire thoughts on the movie:

All and all, a really fun movie that fits perfectly in the realm of “Lazy Sunday Afternoon" movies, even if I saw it on a Monday morning. I’ll grab a cheap iTunes code for this one for sure.

Marvel Studios Intros: Which is Better?

Let’s get down to brass tacks folks.

Which Marvel Studios intro is better?

The original (2013), which premiered with Thor: The Dark World

www.youtube.com/watch

…or the current version (2016), which premiered with Doctor Strange?

www.youtube.com/watch

I wildly prefer the 2013 version.

I sure hope there’s a 10th Anniversary Version with Infinity War.

Day Off Plans

Finally seeing Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle today.

Thanks, MoviePass!

'Inside Facebook's Hellish Two Years—and Mark Zuckerberg's Struggle to Fix it All'

WIRED:

An incredible read by Nicholas Thompson and Fred Vogelstein.

Really shows Facebook as a company which doesn’t want to accept how powerful they are, or are too damned naive to notice it.

I’d be lying if I said stories like these didn’t have to do with me making my social media more of an output medium than an input one.

'Make the Case: Jordan Peele’s Get Out’ Screenplay Is Stunningly Original'

The Ringer:

Adam Nayman makes a very strong case as to why Get Out deserves the Best Original Screenplay Oscar this year.

Get Out is definitely a movie I am strongly pulling for this year. I don’t think a day has gone by since I’ve seen it that I haven’t thought of it. Incredible work by Jordan Peele.

Target's Got A Sale on BLACK PANTHER Merch

You, like me, probably really enjoyed Black Panther this weekend.

Target is ready for us, as a load of merch is on sale for 20% off.

Me, I got this sweet Black Sabbath referencing t-shirt, but you might find other things you dig.

Check it out.

Meet the 2018 DGA Nominees for Feature Film

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNAFHMyXBNA

YouTube:

Really, not a bad way to spend 3 hours, especially considering how damned entertaining these directors are.

Save it for your work day tomorrow, listen to it in the background like a podcast. Will be a joy, promise.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Munch On Unicorns with the New Lucky Charms

PR Newswire:

Really the big question here is, how does “Magical Unicorns" fit into the Lucky Charms jingle?

Track that damn space car!

Where is Starman?:

But where is this vehicle?

What an absolutely insane world we live in where a billionaire can launch a car (of his own design) into space, and send it on the way to Mars.

And how crazy is it that it can be tracked by a random dude on a random website?

I love the web.

Behold, a TOMB RAIDER Barbie

IGN:

Mattel is releasing a new Barbie Tomb Raider doll, based on Alicia Vikander’s upcoming portrayal of the iconic action hero, and IGN can exclusively reveal the new doll.

I like the idea that an adventurous heroine like Lara Croft can be seen as an inspiration to young girls…especially the modern, less cheesecake interpretation.

But couldn’t she look a little more built and less slight? Or would that ruin the Barbie-ness of it all?

READY PLAYER ONE - 'Come With Me' Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_eZxSYRhco

YouTube:

The film is set in 2045, with the world on the brink of chaos and collapse. But the people have found salvation in the OASIS, an expansive virtual reality universe created by the brilliant and eccentric James Halliday (Mark Rylance). When Halliday dies, he leaves his immense fortune to the first person to find a digital Easter egg he has hidden somewhere in the OASIS, sparking a contest that grips the entire world. When an unlikely young hero named Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan) decides to join the contest, he is hurled into a breakneck, reality-bending treasure hunt through a fantastical universe of mystery, discovery and danger.

It’s so surreal seeing this book turned into a movie, especially one which seems to be pulling the Who Framed Roger Rabbit trick of bringing together so many disparate pop-culture licenses.

Fingers remain crossed that Spielberg translates Cline’s work in a way that raises the material, a’la the adaptation work of director Matthew Vaughn with regards to the comics of Mark Millar.

Smooth out those rough edges, deliver the four-quadrant joy.

PACIFIC RIM UPRISING IMAX Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUUUh-51t1k

YouTube:

Saw this special trailer for Pacific Rim: Uprising in front of Black Panther.

I originally was going to avoid it because I didn’t want to see any more footage from the movie, but goddamn, this is some serious eye candy.

I like the Pacific-Rim-by-way-of-Overwatch aesthetic we’re seeing here. Here’s hoping there’s more monster smashing than what we’ve seen in the trailers.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Chocolate Peanut Butter Pebbles Cereal

Cerealously.net:

Okay, I know those mineral puns were more of a stretch than The Rock doing yoga, but something as momentous as Reese’s-flavored Pebbles cereal deserves elementary sedimentary humor.

Yes, Chocolate Peanut Butter Pebbles are soon to be the latest in Post’s Flintstones-fronted crisped cereal line.

Considering how goddamned delicious Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheerios are, there’s no way these can be bad, right?

BLACK PANTHER Bounds to Record-Shattering $218M-Plus Bow

Hollywood Reporter:

Unbelievably well deserved.

After this and Creed, if I’m Hollywood, I’m giving Coogler a blank check for his next film.

Normally, this is where I’d push that I’d hope that he creates some amazing, original films, but given what he’s brought to existing properties like Rocky and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I think Coogler might need to get lined up with a Star Wars flick.

"My original iPod is a time capsule from 2002"

The Verge:

I lost my personal iPod a few years back. Summer 2010? 2011?

All I know is I was in Connecticut for a Super Art Fight event at Connecticon.

Don’t know if I just absent mindedly lost it, if it was stolen, or some combination thereof, but I’d love to run into it again to have an experience just like this.

Incredibles 2 - Olympics Sneak Peek

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBpdL9hSac4

YouTube:

I unfortunately was super quiet on this trailer when it was released.

For me, the idea of risking a sequel for The Incredibles is on par with when they announced Blade Runner 2049 in terms of “OH GOD DON’T RUIN A GOOD THING ESPECIALLY ONE WHICH I LOVE SO MUCH".

BUT!

This really does look great. I really like the idea of turning the concept of the original film on its head (even as it follows directly from the first), and hearing the dulcet tones of one Mr. Bob Odenkirk makes me smile as well.

I’ll be there day one. Don’t let me down, Pixar.

Cool Stuff from Toy Fair 2018

While I am nowhere near the level of toy collector I once was - I literally buy just a handful of toys a year at this point - I really do look forward to Toy Fair every February.

This year, I’ve found that the best overall coverage has been provided by The Toyark, who has outdone themselves with literally hundreds if not thousands of photos from the show floor.

I recommend checking them out if you want to see everything, but here are a few of the items which grabbed my eye:

The surreal Legends of Lucha Libre line coming from Super7, which includes something I’ve always wanted out of a toy - LUCHADORES IN SUITS!

McFarlane’s impressive Stranger Things line, which now has looks and characters from Season 2 - which I’d be more delighted about if their figures weren’t so statue-esq and fragile.

NECA’s awe-inspiring figure of the Pale Man from Pan’s Labyrinth.

These wonderfully funky Street Fighter II vinyl toys from a company named Big Boys

Something called a “Range Trooper" from Solo: A Star Wars Story. I know everyone is digging on Lando’s look, but what the sweet hell is this?

And finally…

A goddamned Peter Porker: The Spectacular Spider-Ham figure. What a weird reality we’ve found ourselves where this will be on the shelves of your local Target.

My Nintendo Switch addiction continues...

After reading all the stellar reviews, I had to give Bayonetta 2 a shot.

Been a while since I’ve played a crazed, Devil May Cry-style action game.

This is going to be perfect for a holiday Monday off.

10 Years Later: Some thoughts on blast-o-rama, this blog, and the web in general

Hard to believe, but much like another project of mine, this blog, blast-o-rama hits the ten year mark this year.

This month, actually.

I can’t pinpoint the exact day, just “February". This blog was a result of me retreating in my head after a nasty break up.

I didn’t want to “just" be on Livejournal anymore. I felt exposed talking about myself personally during a hard time.

This was a time before Twitter and Facebook had grabbed every site, every view, every interest.

The idea was that I’d just ramble and rant about the things that interested me. With a day job that was remedial in effort at best, it was a great way to kill the hours of a work week.

Ten years later, things are very different.

I have a grown ass job. I have a wife. I have a home which I own.

The web as I knew it doesn’t really exist.

I still (like an old) follow many websites via RSS feeds, which remains the perfect delivery mechanism of the web.

No algorithms, no slant, just the latest updates of what you want to read, presented in the order they arrived.

I really admire independent blogging to this day.

Sites like Daring Fireball and Kottke.org seem to stand as the last bastions of what was, but the fact is: they stand. People still read them. People still care.

But I got to thinking, on this most auspicious of occasions, a decade on the web, and especially after reading this great interview with Jason Kottke on twenty years of HIS site

I’ve tried to make this site bigger. Brought on a staff once. (I’m a crummy editor/leader.)

I tried to update more regularly, but I’m not a /Film or a Hollywood Reporter or any number of other great sites which have a staff, and a beat, and the ability to knock out updates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

I tried to grow my brand, building FastFoodArmsRace.com, a site that is great in theory, but my execution has been subpar at best.

At the end of the day, I’m just a really passionate nerd who wants to share with the web, and his friends, and any anonymous well-wishers the cool stuff I saw on the Internet that day.

And…why am I giving this stuff to Twitter or Facebook for free? Why do I allow them to continue to control the web, living in the little shared “living space" they give me, when I can build a home of my own?

That is what blast-o-rama should be.

That is what blast-o-rama will be.

Over the next few weeks, I’m going to kill off the social media presence of blast-o-rama and Fast Food Arms Race. (I’ll keep the Apple News feed for blast-o-rama going, it actually gets a LOT of views.)

Stuff will be moved to my personal accounts - my personal Facebook (if I know you), and my personal Twitter account (@martyfnday, go nuts!).

So what will I do here?

Well, good news. #FastFoodArmsRace will live on here. My thoughts on random cool shit on the web will stay here. My reviews of movies and other shit will stay here.

But expect the regular posts to be a little shorter, a little snappier. Not sure if you saw those “quick post" tests I was doing earlier, but it’s going to be more of that.

I’m not going to be the first word or the last word on any of these topics. But it’s going to be mine, and really, who else can give you that but me?

And yeah, you’ve probably seen I’ve got a new skin on here.

Simple and clean, just like the new site.

I’ve done this for ten goddamn years. Time to prep myself for the next ten, and the next ten, and the next ten.

Black Panther (2018): A Review

Almost every single Marvel Cinematic Universe movie review starts basically the same. God knows I’ve been just as guilty of it.

Talk about how long Marvel Studios has been around (10 years). How many movies (18). How great their ratio of great-to-bad movies is (depending on who you ask, there’s only 2, maybe 3 bad). And ask how they keep doing it.

The answer is simple, and its retained here with the latest release - Black Panther: believe in the source material and you will reap its benefits.

The benefit which Black Panther has, however? While a basic heroes journey tale - you’ve never seen or felt a superhero movie quite like this one.

Under the watchful eye of director Ryan Coogler, Black Panther builds off of the star-making performance of Chadwick Boseman in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War as the titular hero, T’Challa, the leader of a hidden African nation called Wakanda. He has to now take his rightful place as King of Wakanda, with his father being murdered in the aforementioned Civil War, and deal with the subsequent fallout.

While that may feel like you need to have a guide to the Marvel Universe to understand where we’ve been so far, Black Panther as a film is as accessible to viewers as the nation of Wakanda is inaccessible to outsiders. You need not have seen a frame of a prior film to get it.

What you do get, either way, is an absolute cracker of a superhero saga.

From the glorious hidden nation of Wakanda, a technological marvel (no pun intended) obscured from the rest of the world, to a rich supporting cast surrounding T’Challa (including great turns from Lupita Nyong’o,The Walking Dead’s Danai Gurira, and Letitia Wright - starring as T’Challa’s sister, a genius who may put both Tony Stark and Peter Parker to shame), and arguably two of the best villains in the MCU yet, Andy Serkis’ Ulysses Klaue and Michael B. Jordan’s Erik “Killmonger" Stevens.

The latter is where the movie shines brightest. Without going into to much detail, the third act of the film, while filled with the standard smash and bang CGI action, has a beating heart of political conflict and intrigue. Black Panther doesn’t shy away from being a movie of its time, something I wasn’t sure we’d see given how the first two acts are sort of a Batman meets James Bond adventure, seen through a lens of incredible futuristic imagery.

Special credit must go to the amazing art directors and designers for this film - as much as Thor: Ragnarok served as an homage to Jack Kirby and his bold four-color designs, the vision of Wakanda is absolutely stunning and unlike anything ever capture on film. I was captivated by every frame. Also fantastic? The score by Ludwig GÁ¶ransson - best known for collaborating with Donald Glover on his Childish Gambino musical projects. Equal parts classical, tribal, and modern, it adds a driving beat to a film which rarely lets up and delights a truly worldwide audience.

While I write this shortly after leaving the cinema, my brain has not been able to let Black Panther go. Truly a triumph for blockbuster filmmaking and a must-see on the big screen, I foresee watching and rewatching this movie for years to come.

One more note before I go - how incredible is Ryan Coogler as a filmmaker? Between Fruitvale Station, Creed, and this, he’s a true wunderkind. Studios of Hollywood, open your pocketbooks and let him make whatever he wants. He is unstoppable.

Black Panther is in theaters now. Grab your tickets now via Fandango, or pre-order digitally via iTunes.

New DEADPOOL 2 Trailer Invites Us To MEET CABLE

www.youtube.com/watch

Some fresh goodness from 20th Century Fox this morning, as the first trailer for Deadpool 2 (not yet the official title) has hit the web.

The fourth wall is broken, of course, Justice League is mocked, Toy Story is referenced, and we get a LOT of Josh Brolin’s Cable.

Of the multiple superhero sequels this year, this is the one I am most anxious about (I thought the original was good, not great, and could easily fall to diminishing returns, like many comedy sequels), but this trailer has started to calm my worries.

What say you?

Deadpool 2 hits theaters on May 18, 2018.

SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY Revealed!

Following in the footsteps of Rogue One, the first trailer for the latest Star Wars Story is here.

Mired in controversy after the removal of initial directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, fans have been waiting to see what new director Ron Howard had planned for this first look at this Young Han Solo tale.

We still have a great cast, including Hail Caesar!’s Alden Ehrenreich as Solo, Game of Thrones’ Emilia Clarke, and what might be the best casting of all time, Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian.

But now we must judge the movie on what it is, not what it might be, and thanks to Good Morning America, here’s our first look:

www.youtube.com/watch

What do you think? Does the Disney touch continue? Or is this the first road bump on the Mouse House era of Star Wars?

Solo: A Star Wars Story arrives in theaters on May 25, 2018.

MUTE Trailer: Duncan Jones Latest Finally Gets A First Look

Were I to list my favorite directors working today, Duncan Jones would be on it - alongside Edgar Wright, Guillermo del Toro, and Christopher Nolan, among many others I’m sure I’m forgetting.

Jones first grabbed my attention with Moon, an incredible, unique sci-fi film which quickly became one of my favorites of all time.

He has long suggested that a psuedo-sequel, titled Mute, would be coming one day, and finally, next month, thanks to Netflix, it comes to life.

www.youtube.com/watch

Here’s how Netflix describes it:

Prepare yourself for MUTE, a new Netflix Original Film by visionary director Duncan Jones, starring Alexander SkarsgÁ¥rd, Paul Rudd and Justin Theroux. Streaming only on Netflix February 23.

Not a lot there, but with Skarsgard as the mute protagonist, beautiful Blade Runner-esq visuals, and a mystery in play, I will be there on February 23rd to take it all in.

Mute arrives exclusively on Netflix on February 23, 2018.

ANT-MAN AND THE WASP Teaser Trailer Hits The Web!

Ahead of its big-screen showings alongside Black Panther next month, the first teaser trailer for Ant-Man & The Wasp has arrived online.

www.youtube.com/watch

Retaining the same level of humor as the first installment, this sequel seems to pick up directly where the first left off (even if Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang has been involved in a Civil War since), and it looks like Evangeline Lilly’s Hope van Dyne is certainly doing well as the Wasp.

Looking forward to it!

Ant-Man And The Wasp arrives in theaters on July 6, 2018.

Giant! City! Tanks!: First MORTAL ENGINES Trailer

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fupYIggOq38

This trailer was a big surprise in front of Star Wars: The Last Jedi last week. And it’s a real “teaser”, as it’s very little plot, just enough to get your attention.

I’m very intrigued by the visuals here.

I know absolutely nothing of the source material, but with a year out, I’ll be paying attention to this one.

The First OCEAN’S 8 Trailer Has Arrived!

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFWF9dU5Zc0

Real simple, basic setup trailer here. Similar start to Ocean’s Eleven with Debbie Ocean at her parole hearing, and it looks like Cate Blanchett is our “Brad Pitt" here.

I wonder if Anne Hathaway’s character is in on it? Either way, I’m there.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017): A Review

When The Force Awakens hit theaters just two years ago, fans everywhere were delighted - as the first line stated, “This will begin to make things right.“ Moving past the Skywalker legend into a new generation of heroes (while also showcasing those faces we knew and loved), the movie kicked off the next era of Star Wars in the right way.

Now, under writer/director Rian Johnson (Looper), Episode VIII, The Last Jedi, has hit theaters, and I am happy to say that the movie pushes the entire saga forward, albeit in unexpected and possibly controversial ways.

Many will look at The Last Jedi and make immediate comparisons to The Empire Strikes Back. In addition to being the middle installment of its trilogy, both movies are built around a separate plotline for each our heroes. After an exciting opening sequence - one of the best space battles in the Star Wars saga yet - we pick up where we left off with Rey (Daisy Ridley), seeking the trainings of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) to learn what she can of the Force and bring hope to the fledgling Resistance. Finn (John Boyega), the Stormtrooper gone rogue, is continuing to deal with the stress of his choices, and finds himself working alongside a young Resistance worker, Rose (Kelly Marie Tran). Poe Dameron (Oscar Issac) gets the most expanded arc, as he learns to deal with the stresses of his higher ranking in the war, and tries to match his hot headed nature with the calmness needed for leadership.

The growth of the story goes beyond just our heroes, however, as the emboldened First Order continues to reign havoc across the galaxy. This seems to cut to the heart of Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), seemingly still in chaos after completely turning to the Dark Side - and his fellow leaders, the by-the-book General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) and the mysterious Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis, in a motion-capture role).

The script by Johnson is interesting in how the movie - in tune with its focus on a balance of light and dark - manages to be both the most intimate Star Wars film to date, while also pushing the boundaries of what Star Wars is and can be. It’s action packed, it’s filled with humor, but there is also a strong longing in the film - something very human for a series which has always been so bombastic and (although the word is overused now) epic. There are events and sequences which fans will debate for ages to come - and based on the discourse I’ve seen online so far, has been surprisingly derisive for a movie so critically acclaimed.

Performances are, across the board, strong, with our new heroes maturing into their roles, with Driver and Ridley carrying the drama and pathos. The real heart of the movie, however, is Mark Hamill. Having grown long beyond the farm boy hero of the Original Trilogy, this era’s Luke Skywalker has grown more weary of the world around him, yet carries an undeniable peace. His performance is the true revelation of the movie, and considering how little we’ve seen him act on the big screen since Return of the Jedi, perhaps the biggest surprise.

John Williams again provides a brilliant score, with the new themes created for The Force Awakens returning alongside classic motifs, and the visuals are stunning, with Johnson’s longtime cinematographer Steve Yedlin bringing new planets, like the casino planet of Canto Blight and the salt mine planet of Crait, to brilliant life.

When the new Star Wars Saga began with The Force Awakens, many wondered how much of the series would be a retread, but with The Last Jedi, it can be seen how much life, originality and growth can come from a franchise in its fifth decade. As Luke tells Rey - “This is not going to go the way you think.“ Time will tell where the film lands on the all-time rankings, but in the end, the Saga continues with greatness.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is in theaters now. Grab tickets via Fandango, or pre-order today via iTunes.

VR Meets The Real World: READY PLAYER ONE Gets A New Trailer

YouTube

The film is set in 2045, with the world on the brink of chaos and collapse. But the people have found salvation in the OASIS, an expansive virtual reality universe created by the brilliant and eccentric James Halliday (Mark Rylance). When Halliday dies, he leaves his immense fortune to the first person to find a digital Easter egg he has hidden somewhere in the OASIS, sparking a contest that grips the entire world. When an unlikely young hero named Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan) decides to join the contest, he is hurled into a breakneck, reality-bending treasure hunt through a fantastical universe of mystery, discovery and danger.

www.youtube.com/watch

Love it or hate it, it certainly seems like Spielberg is doing a great job of bringing Ernest Cline’s book to life.

Personally, I’m still hoping that Spielberg is able to be the master editor that Cline needed for the novel, resulting in what were some solid ideas getting the right justice deserved.

Either way, Cline’s writing a sequel(which I hope is better than Armada), the movie features even more cameos than the book (what’s up, Tracer from Overwatch!?), and the easter egg searching nerds are going to have a field day going frame by frame.

Oh, there’s a new poster, too.

Miles Morales, Animated: SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE Trailer Arrives!

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii3n7hYQOl4

I didn’t expect to see any sign of this movie for some time, let alone a year out.

I’m very excited for Miles Morales to get the mainstream play he deserves, and the visual style showcased here is both innovative and arresting.

I wonder if the title indicates we’ll be seeing other alternate Spider-People (Spider-Gwen, anyone?).

Of note for animation nerds, Alex Hirsch (Gravity Falls) is one of the story writers for this film. A great sign, for sure.

First Look at Taron Egerton’s ROBIN HOOD

EW.com:

His Robin, 28-year-old Taron Egerton, agrees: “I was approached not long after the first Kingsman movie had come out, and my initial response, to be totally honest, was Why?’ [But] Otto told me he wanted to do something entirely revisionist, something that can’t be tied down to a medieval universe. The first act of the movie, these scenes crusading in Syria, were written like something from The Hurt Locker. It was fantastic, and that was enough to convince me.“ Also on board: Merry Men Jamie Foxx (Little John) and Jamie Dornan (Will Scarlett), and The Knicks Eve Hewson as Maid Marian. And Ben Mendelsohn steps into the Sheriff of Nottingham’s boots — a role that for many is still defined by the late Alan Rickman in 1991’s Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. “I ain’t gonna be outdoing him,“ he admits. “That performance is a delightful tour de force, and I knew and loved the man. But I get a kick out of [sharing it], and I think he would have too.“

Here’s that first look image:

[caption id=“attachment_22325” align=“aligncenter” width=“600”] ROBIN HOODRobin (Taron Egerton)[/caption]

I’m not sure that The Hurt Locker is where my brain goes when I think of Robin Hood, but it has to be better than last Summer’s King Arthur reboot.

R-right?

First Trailer for ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL Brings…Crappy Anime Eyes

YouTube:

Alita Battle Angel is in theaters July 20, 2018.

Directed by: Robert Rodriguez

Screenplay by: James Cameron and Laeta Kalogridis and Robert Rodriguez

Based on the Graphic Novel (“Manga”) Series: “Gunnm” By Yukito Kishiro

Produced by: James Cameron and Jon Landau

Cast: Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly, Mahershala Ali, Ed Skrein, Jackie Earle Haley, Keean Johnson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj8mN_7Apcw

Who told them going “real" with the anime styled eyes was the way to go?

$200 Million on THIS?

Entertainment Weekly Delivers an INCREDIBLES 2 FIRST LOOK!

EW.com:

Incredibles 2 picks up, literally, where the first film left off, with Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl battling The Underminer, while Violet and Dash are stuck with babysitting Jack-Jack,“ says writer-director Brad Bird, who has kept plot details about the highly-secretive sequel to his Pixar blockbuster under tight wraps. Save for a brief tease at Disney’s D23 fan expo this summer, “that’s all we’re saying for now,” Bird continues, “but rest assured, there are a lot more superheroics in store for our ‘family dynamic.'"

Here’s that first look image.  You’re going to want to zoom in, if just to see how well the design work has grown and matured.

Like Blade Runner 2049, I’m worried that Pixar is messing with perfection…but I have a deep hope that they’re gonna nail it.

JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM Gets Its First Trailer

YouTube:

When the island’s dormant volcano begins roaring to life, Owen (Chris Pratt) and Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) mount a campaign to rescue the remaining dinosaurs from this extinction-level event. Owen is driven to find Blue, his lead raptor who’s still missing in the wild, and Claire has grown a respect for these creatures she now makes her mission. Arriving on the unstable island as lava begins raining down, their expedition uncovers a conspiracy that could return our entire planet to a perilous order not seen since prehistoric times.

With all of the wonder, adventure and thrills synonymous with one of the most popular and successful series in cinema history, this all-new motion-picture event sees the return of favorite characters and dinosaurs—along with new breeds more awe-inspiring and terrifying than ever before. Welcome to Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn9mMeWcgoM

I don’t think this will get the nostalgia bump of the prior Jurassic World, but giant dino movies just grab a part of my heart.

That said…this looks kind of ridiculous, and I’m not sure it’s in the good way…

Warner Bros to Restructure DC Films, After JUSTICE LEAGUE Fails

Variety:

Jon Berg will be leaving his current job running the comic book’s film production division, according to several sources with knowledge of the studio’s plans. A search is underway for his replacement. Berg will instead become a production partner with Roy Lee, the producer of “The Lego Movie" and “It,“ who has a deal on the lot.

Such a shame. So much promise, so little delivery.

I hope they see what Wonder Woman was, and Batman v Superman and the rest weren’t. A frankenfilm like Justice League isn’t going to fix things.

Tarantino's STAR TREK is GO! AND IT'S R-RATED?!

Deadline:

This story is getting buck wild.

I can’t wait to see what they do! Seriously, I have no clue what to expect.

Marvel Rising - A New Generation of Heroes

Buzzfeed:

This looks really fun, and has a heck of a cast of voice actors.

I’m particularly excited to see Milana Vayntrub become the “official" Squirrel Girl.

Here’s the promo image:

More details at Marvel.com.

AQUAMAN's Looking Steamy In This First Look Image

EW.com:

EW’s exclusive first image from the stand-alone Aquaman movie shows Arthur Curry looking somehow even more jacked and more tatted and more menacing than he did before as he strides out of the steam amid some industrial setting.

As Momoa was the best part of Justice League (alongside Ezra Miller’s Flash), I’m hoping his solo movie - much like Wonder Woman - works out better than the giant team-up movie he also appeared in.

Here’s that image in full.

Square Goes Against The Grain With New TOMB RAIDER Announcement

From the official Tomb Raider Twitter:

twitter.com/tombraide…

Seriously, how cool is this?

They admit the game is coming, but they don’t want to play the traditional hype game. They just want to announce before release, get it out there, and not feed the standard fire that every game has to deal with years before launching.

Let’s see if it works for them. As someone who has loved both the Tomb Raider reboot and Rise of Tomb Raider, I’m in for this next one…rumored to be titled Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

I’m guessing this means it won’t be out in time for the movie next year.

First Look at Sophie Turner as X-Men's DARK PHOENIX

EW.com:

Set in 1992, about 10 years after the events of last year’s X-Men: Apocalypse, Dark Phoenix opens with the X-Men, including Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence), Beast (Nicholas Hoult), Storm (Alexandra Shipp), Nightcrawler (Kodi Smit-McPhee), and Quicksilver (Evan Peters), in a new, unexpected role: national heroes. Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) even lands on the cover of Time magazine. But his growing ego puts the team at risk. “Pride is starting to get the better of him, and he is pushing the X-Men to more extreme missions,“ Kinberg says. After they’re dispatched to space for a rescue mission, a solar flare hits the X-Jet and the surge of energy ignites a malevolent, power-hungry new force within Jean (Game of Thrones’ Sophie Turner)— the Phoenix.

Here’s a full look at that cover image:

I didn’t really mind Sophie Turner’s Jean Grey, but Apocalypse was a god awful mess. I really hope that X-Men: Dark Phoenix is better than both Apocalypse and The Last Stand.

UPDATE: We got some stills, too!

Bottleneck Gallery Releases A Lovely New STAR WARS Timed Poster

io9:

Really a lovely poster.

Check it out in full.

And you know there’s a sweet variant too.

Reminds me quite a bit of the timed exclusive Bottleneck Gallery did for The Force Awakens, another stunner.

Ryan Reynolds IS...DETECTIVE PIKACHU?!

Hollywood Reporter:

The Deadpool star has signed on to star in Legendary’s live-action PokÁ©mon movie, THR has learned.

I’m not sure if this necessarily the next big franchise role most expected for Ryan Reynolds after Deadpool, but it beats being dragged in for a Green Lantern sequel.

What makes this most weird, is this version of Pikachu - besides wearing a hat and apparently being a detective, as the title indicates - he talks.  And we learned earlier this year that people don’t really care for that.

Entertainment Weekly's Got a FIRST LOOK at OCEAN'S EIGHT

EW.com:

As a long-time fan of the Ocean’s movies, I have high hopes for this.

They’ve got a heck of a cast put together for this all female take on the series. Here’s hoping the magic (found in Eleven, lost in Twelve, returned in Thirteen) is on the screen this Summer.

So, I Guess Vine is Coming Back?

Gizmodo:

I know that we were all bummed when Vine went away, but how many tech sequels actually work?

Also, will this result in the return of Vine Stars and their weird co-op living spaces?

Black Mirror - Season 4, Trailer and Release Date Revealed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ELQ6u_5YYM

YouTube:

What a wonderfully bleak way to send off 2017 and bring on 2018.

Sonos and Ikea UNITE!

The Verge:

As someone who would love to have multi-room speakers in his house, but has yet to pull the trigger, the idea of Ikea and Sonos working together on what would - presumably - be a cheaper solution for everyone, sounds incredibly exciting.

Ridley Scott Discusses Future ALIEN Sequels

EW.com:

So, the grand lesson that Ridley Scott learned from Alien Covenant was that the world needed more Fassbender-bots?

I’m a huge fan of the Alien franchise and a full-on Prometheus apologist (and I really liked Katherine Waterston as pseudo-Ripley), but I feel like Ridley has learned the wrong lesson here.

Amazon Prime Video FINALLY Arrives on Apple TV

The Verge:

On the one hand, I’m excited to get caught up on The Grand Tour and A24 movies.

On the other the lack of integration within the TV app is a bummer. I guess it’s the same concerns which have kept Netflix from integrating?

UPDATE! Per Apple’s official press release, it looks like it IS integrating. Wasn’t working on my TV app earlier, but I just checked my phone, and Prime Video is there!

Marvel Is Ready To Enter The Podcast Realm

Mashable:

Mashable can exclusively reveal that the beloved X-Men character will headline Marvel’s first-ever scripted podcast, Wolverine: The Long Night, a 10-episode serialized story that will debut exclusively on podcast network Stitcher Premium in Spring 2018 as part of a partnership between Marvel and Stitcher, before rolling out across all other podcast platforms in the fall.

Very cool to see Stitcher go outside of the box to grow their Premium offering, but I know that at least personally, I’ll probably wait for the free Fall roll out?

I think that the expectation of free podcasts are just too strong.

Does this mean we’ll get a Casper mattress ad read by Wolverine? I sure hope so!

Cinemark Takes A Shot at MoviePass, Misses

Cinemark.com:

After much handwringing from the film exhibition industry about MoviePass and it’s “One Movie A Day for $10/mo" subscription plan, we’re seeing the first instance of a major theater chain trying to make a go of it themselves, with Cinemark introducing their MovieClub.

As you can see above, it’s crap. $9 a month gets you one ticket, just one, along with 20% off concessions, subsequent tickets for just $9 each, no online fees and rollover of unused tickets.

Unless you’re a hardcore Cinemark fan - and really truly want to just see one movie a month - I can’t see how this works out great versus MoviePass.

A major pass for the hardcore movie nerd, but maybe this will grab the casuals?

Disney and Fox Deal is Closer To Happening

CNBC.com:

CNBC has been reporting that Disney has held talks with the Rupert Murdoch-controlled media company to acquire its studio and television production assets, leaving Fox with its news and sports assets. Fox is also talking with CNBC parent company Comcast, but the talks with Disney have progressed more significantly.

The deal contemplates the sale of Fox’s Nat Geo, Star, regional sports networks, movie studios and stakes in Sky and Hulu, among other properties. What would remain at Fox includes its news and business news divisions, broadcast network and Fox sports.

This could be absolutely insane.

Fans have been frothing at this idea for some time - mostly over the idea that the Marvel Universe could be mostly made whole again, with additions of X-Men and Fantastic Four to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and perhaps the return of the Fantastic Family to Marvel Comics proper, but there are some bigger ideas at stake.

From my conversations with friends today:

What say you, Internet?

10 Years, Leading To This - AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR Trailer Arrives

As promised, heralded with an amazing Vanity Fair cover story looking back on the ten remarkable years of Marvel Studios starting with Iron Man, the first trailer for Avengers: Infinity War has arrived.

www.youtube.com/watch

The trailer is absolutely full of money shots, seeing all elements of the Marvel Universe come together in ways both expected and unexpected. Seeing Spider Sense come to life? The return of the Hulkbuster? Cap and Black Panther leading the armies of Wakanda? This is fanboy frothing excitement!

The Avengers theme beautifully scores the trailer in an epic way, and honestly, this looks like a Return of the King-level culmination of every movie that has come before this.

This has been a decade long bet from Marvel Studios, and it looks like it will pay off.

Avengers: Infinity War hits theaters on May 4, 2018.

Justice League (2017): A Review

The DC Comics Cinematic Universe has had a hard hand dealt to it so far.

Most people forget that 2011’s Green Lantern was supposed to start the post-Dark Knight era of movies, but that film’s immediate brutal failure lead to a false start.

Man of Steel performed better - both with critics and fans, but Superman purists were skeptical of the darker, more brutal and brooding version of Kal-El brought to the screen by Watchmen’s Zack Snyder.

Never the less, this new DC Comics cinematic universe persisted, dealing with the ever growing shadow of what Marvel Studios started, and trying to give the original superheroes their due.

Last year brought us both Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad, films with vocal fans, high (but “not high enough" box office), and critical distain. But then, this Summer, hope arrived in the form of Wonder Woman, a joyous revelation for the franchise, finally gaining the populous and critical win the movie needed.

I realize, I’ve yet to say one word about Justice League so far, but that’s because it is extremely hard to view the film in a bubble of its own. Whether you’re looking at it as an Avengers-esq culmination of the films so far, or just the next phase following Wonder Woman, it doesn’t really live by itself.

Unfortunately, that extends into the movie itself, a Frankenstein-esq patchwork of a movie started by Zack Snyder, and finished by The Avengers’ own Joss Whedon.

Justice League starts in the wake of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Superman (Henry Cavill) is dead, Batman (Ben Affleck) is filled with the want to do something greater, and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) is out of the shadows. At the same time, horned baddie Steppenwolf (CiarÁ¡n Hinds) has returned to Earth along with a bunch of, uh, evil bug men? called Parademons (which you may remember from a dream sequence in Batman v Superman) to hunt down Motherboxes, giant glowy boxes which do, uh, things.

Yeah, it’s kind of slapdash, and really just an excuse for Batman to bring together heroes, including the socially awkward Flash (Ezra Miller), half-man half-supercomputer Cyborg (Ray Fisher), and Aquaman (Jason Momoa), reinterpreted here as an underwater rock-god, complete with love of drinking whiskey from the bottle and being covered head to toe in tribal tattoos.

The film which follows is an absolutely jarring watch. Snyder’s capital S serious superhero union film is juxtaposed with re-shot sequences filled with goofy humor and awkward character moments, which could not more clearly be from the pen of Whedon. I didn’t want to spend the movie wondering who did what, but the juxtaposition is so strong, so jarring, that I couldn’t help but notice. In fact, I’m pretty sure that even the color grading is different between the two shoots, making it easier for the average moviegoer to determine which director did what.

I really wanted to enjoy this movie - I enjoyed Wonder Woman after all, and while I never reviewed it here, I respected Batman v Superman for so clearly continuing Snyder’s vision of the DC Comics Universe, no matter how much I may personally agree or disagree with it. Instead, I was just baffled by the final movie, even with a fun start and decent action throughout. There’s an entire sequence in the second act that is so weird, and so off putting, I wasn’t sure how anyone OK’d it, especially in a film this over-scrutinized.

There are moments which could grow well from the failures here: Ezra Miller’s Flash is fantastic, full-stop, Gal Gadot remains a star, and I really want to see the full movie of Jason Momoa’s Aquaman. I feel really bad for Ray Fisher - it’s clear his version of Cyborg is meant to be in a darker, more tortured film, and is left somewhat hollow from the change in tone. As for Ben Affleck’s Batman? I like him in the role, but it’s becoming clear that he has quickly fallen out of love with the pressures and responsibilities of being this version of Batman. I don’t blame him for it, but he is almost a non-entity within Justice League, which breaks my heart to see.

Justice League is a movie of infinite potential, squandered. Moments work, moments fail, and somehow, we as an audience are left completely numb to the official big screen union of some of the greatest comic book characters of all time. How did this fail so hard? Is there really a better cut, either pure Snyder or pure Whedon, which could be the Blade Runner: Directors Cut of its time? Either way, this will be a movie viewed, discussed, taken apart, and put back together again for years to come…and I don’t know that anyone will ever truly be happy with it.

DC Comics needed another win. Justice League was not it. I’m so sorry to say that.

Justice League is in theaters now. You can get tickets via Fandango, or pre-order today on iTunes.

Murder On The Orient Express (2017): A Review

They don’t make them like this any more, do they?

A mid-range budget dramatic film, based on classic stories, just filled with a bunch of name actors acting their asses off. That’s what Murder On The Orient Express is on the onset, and honestly, that’s exactly what the movie delivers - even if it’s in the least exciting, most competent, and completely inoffensive way possible.

Starring and directed by Kenneth Branagh (who has an incredible mustache in this film), this seeming start of a Poirot-niverse, is filled with talent. Names you know and love like Judi Dench and William DaFoe! Names you forgot about like Penelope Cruz and the return of Michelle Pfeiffer! New names you really like, such as Daisy Ridley (who you know as Rey from Star Wars) and Josh Gad (he’s Olaf, the snowman, in Frozen, the movie your kids won’t stop watching!) They even got a guy from Hamilton! (Leslie Odom, Jr.)

And yep, Johnny Depp is here too!

But here’s the good news: Depp dies early. And that’s exactly what Branagh’s Hercule Poirot has to get to the bottom of. And all those other actors? Yeah, ANY of them could’ve done it.

An adaptation of the Agatha Christie classic, I had no prior exposure to the book or the many other adaptations prior to sitting down and watching this, and I mean no offense to the film, but the best way I can describe it is - the movie happened in front of me, I watched it, it ended, and I have nothing bad to say about it.

This is the type of movie that is a resume filler for most, and a forgettable date night for audiences. This is the type of movie that keeps actors working, behind the scenes staff busy, and mortgages paid.

There’s nothing offensive, nothing bad, but at the same time - nothing great or leaving you jumping over the moon for it. This is the type of movie you land on a cable channel on a lazy Sunday afternoon, you fill the time, and you feel OK that you did it.

And maybe that’s just fine.

Murder On The Orient Express is in theaters now. Grab tickets via Fandango, or pre-order today via iTunes.

Thor: Ragnarok (2017): A Review

The Thor franchise has, unfortunately, been the unloved child of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

While just as important as Iron Man and Captain America in the grand scope of the Universe, and just as much as founding Avenger, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who calls the Thor films their favorite.

Sure - each installment brought something good, the sly fish-out-of-water humor of 2011’s Thor, the beautiful visuals of a fully realized Asgard in 2013’s Thor: The Dark World, but neither really seemed to stick the landing.

Enter filmmaker Taika Waititi.

Best known for his unique sense of humor (and frankly, smaller indie films), Waititi has taken the series’s not-so-secret weapons - Chris Hemsworth’s sly sense of humor, stunning visuals - and funneled them through his own skewed prism, as seen in his prior films What We Do In The Shadows and Hunt For The Wilderpeople.

The result is Thor: Ragnarok, which while it may not stand as one of the finest films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, certainly has the first place prize for the Thor trilogy.

The plot is honestly not that different from prior films. There’s a big bad threatening Asgard and possibly Earth (in this case, the dark and devious Hela, played by Cate Blanchett, who is very clearly enjoying herself), Thor has to deal with that, live up to his father (Anthony Hopkins) Odin’s shadow, and also deal with his trickster brother, Loki (the fangirl fav Tom Hiddleston).

What makes the movie different, however, is the absolutely amazing and joyful detour the story takes, sending Thor out of his element and into the world of Saakar. Saakar is where the majority of the story takes place - a junker planet with visuals straight out of Jack Kirby comics, overseen by The Grandmaster (a face painted Jeff Goldblum playing Jeff Goldbum).

Thor is kidnapped upon his arrival on the planet - by an interesting, drunk female warrior named Scrapper 142 (Tessa Thompson, who has a unique connection to Thor) - and made to fight in a giant Gladiator-esq fighting ring.

If you’ve seen the trailer, you know who shows up from here, but I’m going to act as you didn’t.

The scenes on Saakar are the lifeblood of Thor: Ragarok. Showcasing that surreal sense of humor alongside gloriously eye burning visuals (and a synth soundtrack by Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh), these sequences are a joy - especially those featuring rock man Korg, a motion-captured character played by Taika Waititi himself. There is such a fun, silly, and breakneck pace to these sequences - they’re so full of humor and life, you want to live in them.

But then, eventually, the plot picks back up and we’re back to a normal superhero film for the final act.

That, if anything, is the biggest flaw of Thor: Ragnarok - it does such a good job of being unlike any other superhero film by turning into a cosmic comedic farce, that it’s almost deflating to see the superhero parts come back at the end. I recognize, this is like docking points from a western for having cowboy hats, but what was captured was so unique and so out there, I wanted to see if Marvel Studios would let this pan out entirely.

Despite that, Thor: Ragnarok still gains a strong recommendation from me - but let’s be honest, you knew from the announcement if you were going to see this movie. With this movie, Waititi has made himself a director you must watch, and I can’t wait to see what Hollywood allows him to indulge himself with next - but I just wish it went that extra mile.

Thor: Ragnarok is in theaters now. Grab tickets via Fandango, or pre-order today on iTunes.

GAME NIGHT Trailer: What If THE GAME Was Funny?

Thus far, the creative output of John Frances Daley and Jonathan Goldstein has been somewhat of a mixed bag.

They co-wrote Horrible Bosses, Horrible Bosses 2, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and both wrote and directed the recent Vacation reboot.

This coming March, Daley and Goldstein are back in the director role, as they bring us Game Night.

Headlined by Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams, the movie seems to posit the idea of a comedic version of the 90’s David Fincher classic The Game, as a group of friends take their regular game night to a very, very dark level.

www.youtube.com/watch

I know, this doesn’t sound great, but upon seeing the trailer, this looks like this could be darkly hilarious, and I’m game to see Rachel McAdams get more work, beyond her thankless roles in the Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Strange franchises.

Either way, I’m in to MoviePass it.

Game Night hits theaters on March 2, 2018.

Rian Johnson To Launch New STAR WARS Trilogy

You know how excited and hyped we are for Star Wars: The Last Jedi?

Yeah, apparently Disney’s even more excited.

Announced today via StarWars.com, Rian Johnson, while not taking over the reigns for Episode IX, he is being given the opportunity to create his own, unique Star Wars trilogy.

From the PR:

As writer-director of The Last Jedi, Johnson conceived and realized a powerful film of which Lucasfilm and Disney are immensely proud. In shepherding this new trilogy, which is separate from the episodic Skywalker saga, Johnson will introduce new characters from a corner of the galaxy that Star Wars lore has never before explored.

As someone who has loved Johnson’s prior films (Brick, The Brothers Bloom, and Looper, if you are sadly not familiar), this is incredibly exciting, and the vote of creative confidence fans need to see from Lucasfilm after the issues surrounding Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the departure of Phil Lord & Chris Miller from Solo: A Star Wars Story, and the departure from Episode IX of Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow.

What will be interesting, however, is to see what other films - if any - Lucasfilm produces around this new trilogy. Is it going to be alongside the rumored Obi-Wan film? Are these replacing the Star Wars Story films? Will we get Episodes X, XI and XII?

Much remains to be seen, but in a related bit that seems to have (understandably) flown under the radar, Disney has confirmed (via Variety) the long-rumored Star Wars live action TV series, which will be - along with a Monsters Inc. series and High School Musical series - exclusive to Disney’s Netflix competitor.

No word on when that show will hit the air, but the over-the-top streaming service is set for a late 2019 release.

EARLY MAN Teaser: Aardman Takes Us Way, Way Back

Thank goodness that stop motion is still a thing.

While Laika Pictures has been blowing our minds with films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two String, the standard bearer for modern day stop motion has been Aardman Animation, best known for the Wallace and Gromit series of shorts.

They struck gold last year with the release of the Shaun the Sheep film, and early next year will return with an original property - Early Man.

Looking like a silly caveman romp, filled with British actors you know and love like Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hiddleston, Maisie Williams and others, this will be a great way to kick off the year. Check out the teaser trailer below.

youtu.be/ggnigvymL…

Early Man hits theaters on February 16, 2018.

THE POST Trailer: Spielberg Takes On Washington

Look, I’m not going to front here - The Post is somewhat obvious Oscar-bait.

A movie about the real life story of a newspaper taking on the Government in decades past, just as reality repeats itself? Yeah, this is a gimme for a Best Picture nod.

But then you realize this has Steven Spielberg behind the lens, and a class including the anchors of Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, alongside Bob Odenkirk, Bradley Whitford and Carrie Coon?

Yeah, you’re in. And then there’s the trailer.

youtu.be/nrXlY6gzT…

Christmas is going to be a good movie season.

The Post hits theaters in limited release December 22, 2017, before going wide on January 12, 2018.

A Few Thoughts on STRANGER THINGS 2

Last year, like many others, I was surprised, if not floored, by the surprise Netflix release of Stranger Things, an incredible love letter to 1980’s horror and sci-fi from The Duffer Brothers.

On Friday, October 27th, at 3am Eastern, the Second Season hit Netflix, and while I was definitely one of the people wringing their hands at messing with a good thing and doing another season of a great show which seemed to tie things up rather well, I’m pleased to share that Stranger Things 2 (as the second season is titled on-screen) is pretty damn great, if not almost as good as the original.

I’m not going to put together a full-on review of the series, as people far more meticulous and well-versed in TV recapping have done that to death.

Instead, I’ll share just a few thoughts on the second season. And don’t worry - the spoilers, if any, are very very minor.

Stranger Things 2 is streaming now on Netflix.

Happy Death Day (2017): A Review

With a movie like Happy Death Day, it’s very easy to see how the movie was sold. It’s an incredibly simple pitch: Groundhog Day meets a slasher film. But what you wouldn’t expect? How well it executes what is, ultimately, a very basic twist on an existing formula.

Our lead is Tree (short for Theresa, apparently?) It’s Monday the 18th, her birthday, and she - a sorority girl - has woken up in the bedroom of a guy she doesn’t remember spending the night with. Hung over, she does the walk of shame back to her sorority house, goes about her day, heads to a party for the evening…and on her way there, is murdered by a psychopath in a baby mask.

You know, an average day.

The weird thing, though? Once murdered - she wakes up…and the day repeats, again, and again.

Happy Death Day is the latest film from producer Jason Blum, whose Blumhouse Productions company specializes in horror movies on the cheap. They brought us the Paranormal Activity franchise, The Purge, even this year’s incredible Get Out. In turn, it’s clever to see them turn the average slasher film on it’s head. With director Christopher B. Landon (best known for the Paranormal Activity sequels) behind the lens, and a script from Scott Lobdell (best known for writing countless X-Men comics), there’s a steady hand guiding the high-concept carrying the movie.

The movie which follows isn’t a particularly gory film, and much like a similar Groundhog Day alike, Edge of Tomorrow, uses the repeat mechanic as a place of humor. Sure, there are some nice jump scares, but you’ll be laughing more than you’ll be shrieking. What Happy Death Day really is, however, is a coming out party for lead Jessica Rothe. Best known before this as one of Emma Stone’s roommates in La La Land, Rothe carries the movie as she goes on her repetitive journey and learns quite a bit about her predicament along the way.

Happy Death Day isn’t going to win any awards, probably won’t last long in your memory, and isn’t the most original movie rendered to film, but what it delvers is 96 minutes of entertainment, and proves that Jessica Rothe is probably worth a bigger role in the future. If you’re looking for a fun film this Halloween season, Happy Death Day is it.

Happy Death Day is in theaters now. Grab tickets today via Fandango, or pre-order via iTunes.

New PUNISHER Trailer Reveals Guns, Gore, Metallica and Its Netflix Release Date!

While not the all-out success that the Marvel Studios films have been, the smaller scale “Defenders" universe hitting screens via Netflix has been a real joy.

Sure, not everything worked (looking at you, Iron Fist), but generally, the mixture of Daredevil, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and that glow-y fist dude has worked out great, both for the streaming network and the iconic comic book company.

The first post-Defenders series hits Netflix this Fall, and with a brand new trailer released this morning (below), we not only know how rad Jon Berenthal’s solo run as the Punisher looks to be, but we have a release date too: November 17th, pitting the latest Marvel TV adventure right up against DC/Warner Bros’ Justice League in theaters.

youtu.be/OMW_dPtm7…

The trailer is really effective, whether it’s the use of Metallica’s “One", or the general gloominess of Berenthal’s version of the violent Marvel anti-hero, and it definitely looks like Netflix has another hit on their hands.

What say you?

The Punisher arrives on Netflix on November 17, 2017.

Giant Robot Battles Are REAL!

Proving that not everything in this world is awful, last night saw the live streaming premiere of the world’s first International robot battle, as a team from the United States - Megabots - pitted their robots against mechs created by a team from Japan - that of Sudiobashi Heavy Industry.

www.youtube.com/watch

I won’t spoil the outcome, but this video is an absolute delight, from getting ex-UFC commentator Mike Goldberg to add a true fight flair to the video, to the pre-match smack talk.

This is one of those great moments in life, where the world isn’t awful.

For more on Megabots, click here!

For more on Sudiobashi Heavy Industry, click here!

The UNTITLED HAN SOLO Movie Gets A Not So Unique Title!

Much how a Black Panther trailer was surprise dropped on us yesterday, Disney continues the nerd hype today with the surprise announcement of the title of the Han Solo film…

Yeah, that’s not really interesting, surprising or unique, is it?

But given the rather dramatic creative process of the film, with Phil Lord and Chris Miller being removed as directors, and Ron Howard being put in, maybe a simple and easy title is just the smooth next step the movie needed.

I do wonder, however, if that’s what Lord and Miller wanted to call it.

Solo: A Star Wars Story hits theaters on May 25, 2018.

CONTEST: Win Some Sweet THE SNOWMAN Swag!

This Friday, October 20th, the film adaptation of the Jo Nesbo thriller The Snowman hits theaters.

Starring Michael Fassbender, this looks to be one of the bigger movies of the Fall season, and I’m proud to share that Blast-O-Rama is hosting an exclusive giveaway, courtesy of Universal Pictures.

One very lucky winner will get a special The Snowman prize pack, including:

1 - Limited Edition Snowman Plush Doll: This limited edition Snowman plush is only available via this promotion and has a run of 200 pieces worldwide. It is a replica of the killer’s Snowman and features a detachable head and the Snowman logo on the bottom.

1 - The Snowman Official Promo Shirt - An official promo T-Shirt featuring The Snowman logo on the front and the signature design on the back.

1 - Replica Snowman Killer Letter - A replica of the Snowman killer’s note, sealed.

One winner will be selected from the comments to this post.

How do you enter?

Take this awesome The Snowman-themed quiz app above, and copy and paste your results in the comment below! One winner will be randomly selected. You have until October 27, 2017 to enter!

Please note, this contest is ONLY open to those in the United States and Canada, and use a real email address, as I will contact the winner for their physical mailing address.

To learn more about The Snowman, head to http://www.thesnowmanmovie.com/ or pick up your tickets early via Fandango!

The Snowman hits theaters on Friday, October 20, 2017.

Marvel Releases Surprise BLACK PANTHER Trailer

With Thor: Ragnarok coming on November 3rd, Marvel Studios is running on all cylinders. While fans eyes are locked on the May 2018 release of Avengers: Infinity War, there’s another Marvel Studios film on the road to war - Black Panther, and to remind us of how dope it’s going to be, Marvel Studios released a new trailer earlier today.

Directed by Creed’s Ryan Coogler, and featuring Michael B. Jordan as lead villain Erik Killmonger (living up to the family name, I assume), this looks to be an absolute visual stunner.

There are definitely some scenes which surprise - including what appears to be a technicolor dream sequence for T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), but I am loving the vibe and aesthetic of this movie.

youtube.com/watch

In addition to the trailer, Marvel Studios has released what appears to be the final poster for the film, below.

What say you, dear reader? You in? Or is Marvel burning you out?

Black Panther hits theaters on February 14, 2018.

Do You Feel It? The STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI Trailer Is Here!

As promised, this evening during halftime on Monday Night Football, the long-awaited trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi has hit television screens and the web at the same time.

We all know that you’re itching to click through to see the latest with our new friends Rey, Finn, Poe and Kylo, so honestly, I could write nothing else, but, bare in mind, director Rian Johnson says that you don’t need to see this one…

twitter.com/rianjohns…

…and there are some shots here, which in my eyes, appear to be false indications of certain plot developments.

But that’s me, and what do I know? WATCH IT!

www.youtube.com/watch

Of course, a trailer is nothing without a poster, and we got one earlier today, so if you missed it - here it is. It’s a nice one! Love the red.

Don’t forget to join the rush to get your tickets, as they’re officially on-sale via Fandango! I am really loving this Star Wars Christmas thing.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi hits theaters on December 15th, 2017.

Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017): A Review

Kingsman: The Golden Circle is the pizza buffet of movies.

On paper, it sounds like a great idea - an endless assortment of the things you love! - but in practice, it’s way way too much, leaving a bloated feeling.

Let me back up.

When Kingsman: The Secret Service hit theaters in 2014, it was a breath of fresh air. Director Matthew Vaughn, once again adapting a Mark Millar comic series for the better, took what could’ve been a cheap James Bond riff and made it a brilliant, gloriously immature riff on British class struggle and the tech world. Violent, vulgar, and a little bit crazy, the movie was an R-rated joy.

In the case of this year’s model, however, we’ve gone a bit off the rails.

Following up a year after the original, The Golden Circle finds Eggsy (Taron Egerton) in the swing of things as a Kingsman. Spy by day - with that sweet tailor shop as a cover - while dating the Princess of Sweden by night, he’s settled into a good groove. Unfortunately for him and the Kingsman, however, they’re locked in on by a group called “The Golden Circle".

Lead by a charismatic Martha Stewart-esq drug runner named Poppy (Julianne Moore), the Kingsman are quickly attacked and scattered across the globe. With little to no resources, Eggsy (alongside not-quite-Q, Merlin, played once again with aplomb by Mark Strong) looks to the assistance of the Kingsman’s American “cousins", The Statesman.

The Statesman (seen here with Jeff Bridges, Channing Tatum, Game of Thrones’ Pedro Pascal, and Halle Berry) are a bunch of cowboys: so the question is - can the classy Kingsman work together with their Whiskey selling brethren to take down the Golden Circle?

It’s a lot to take in - and that’s not even covering subplots such as Eggsy looking to impress his girlfriend’s Royal parents, the return from the dead of Harry (Colin Firth, with a sweet eyepatch), and the lengthy inclusion of Elton John. Yes, really.

Running a far-too-long 2 hours and 21 minutes, there is a lot to enjoy about Kingsman: The Golden Circle, but the film is brought down by trying to do far too much. The action is as arresting and entertaining as ever, with Vaughn’s “Hyper Cam" shooting style showing spy antics in a way not before seen on film, including a wonderful Bond-esq prologue fought in the streets of London. The issue is, however, none of the plotting really sticks. The stakes never seem high enough, the real issue of concern is muddied, the attempt to discuss the “War on Drugs" is half-assed at best, and honestly, the shocks are rather cheap (including a sequence set at Glastonbury which you’ll be amazed a major studio approved).

I can’t say I didn’t have a good time with Kingsman: The Golden Circle - there are countless crowd pleasing moments, Julianne Moore seems to be having the time of her life as a villain, and I really loved the Statesman concept - but it was just too much. I feel like the team working on the film, including regular Vaughn collaborator Jane Goodman, needed someone saying “No" more often than “YES!“.

Would I be into a third Kingsman? Perhaps - but if there is, they need to make like Poppy and grind out the fat.

Kingsman: The Golden Circle is in theaters now.

My MoviePass Experience (Part 2): The Waiting is the Hardest Part

This is the second part of an ongoing look at MoviePass, a subscription service allowing unlimited access to movie tickets. You can read the first part here.

Last week - a week today, exactly - I signed up for MoviePass, the service that cinephiles all across the US have been losing their mind over.

The idea has been simple, pay $10 a month, get to see unlimited movies (1 every 24 hours) - use an app to reserve your ticket, and pay with a special MoviePass credit card.

But what if that card doesn’t come to you?

That’s the struggle I’m dealing with now.

When I signed up, MoviePass promised 5-7 business days before the card would arrive. No big deal. Or, at least, it wasn’t.

Last night, MoviePass sent its subscribers (myself included) an email, shared below in full (emphasis and bolding, theirs):

In recent weeks, we’ve received hundreds of thousands of emails and tens of thousands of chats through our customer service channels. Though we increased our staff in anticipation of the new plan, the response has been overwhelming. In an effort to address all of your questions, we’ve tripled the size of our team, which is working to respond to everyone as quickly as possible.

Due to heavy traffic, our card processing facility has increased manpower to accommodate the high demand. After hiring more employees and lengthening their service hours, they have drastically increased the number of cards shipped on a weekly basis.

In the hopes of delivering your card as close to your sign-up date as possible, cards are created in batches on a first-come, first-served basis. Recently, the manufacturing queue was shuffled, so some of the cards have been delivered out of order. While we work to ensure that processing is fulfilled according to your registration date, some of our more recent sign-ups may receive their cards before some of our earlier sign-ups. There is currently a 2-3 week delay in card delivery. As an added measure, we’ve opened another fulfillment center that will double our weekly output.

Although you were billed for your first month of service upon registration, your membership does not begin until you receive your card and activate it in the app, and you will not be billed the second installment until a month after activation.

E-Ticketing

If you would like to use the service immediately, feel free to check our app for e-ticketing theaters, which allow you to retrieve your same day ticket, without the MoviePass card. These locations are identified by a red ticket icon next to each theater’s name. Participating theaters are Goodrich Quality Theaters, Studio Movie Grill, and MJR Theatres. Once you reserve your e-ticket at one of these locations, your first month of service will begin regardless of whether you’ve received your card.

For your convenience, we’ve included a few resources that can help you find additional information you may need. The FAQ’s should provide answers to all of your questions and the theater map allows you to search for supported locations in your area. Though several unauthorized sites were created to provide a list of supported theaters, only moviepass.com can provide accurate results.

Thank you for your patience. We’ll continue to send updates on a weekly basis.

Theater Map: https://www.moviepass.com/

FAQ’s: https://moviepass.zendesk.com/hc/en-us

Thank you,

The MoviePass Team

OK, so it sounds like they are going through the growing pains of any successful company - lots of interest, not enough bodies, and they’re hiring to fix it. And I will say, props to them for not charging us for our second month until our cards are activated.

That said - it does bum me out to see that they clearly did not expect (or plan appropriately) for the influx of customers they now have. They had to know this would increase their numbers, so who dropped the ball? It’s a shame that we subscribers - especially given that the first month is charged upon sign-up - have to deal with the delay and the fallout from their mismanagement.

I remain optimistic on the service as a whole right now, but if you’re considering signing up, you may want to wait a bit.

More updates in 2-3 weeks, it sounds like. Now to pay for my September movie tickets like a chump without a cool unlimited movie subscription.

My MoviePass Experience (Part 1): What Is MoviePass?

As anyone who reads this site can easily tell, I love movies. And more than that, I love to see movies in theaters…even if my home viewing experience is pretty darn good.

With that in mind, for the past few years, I’ve been keeping my eyes on a startup called MoviePass. The concept was always pretty simple - pay a flat rate, see a bunch of movies. Sounds cool, right? Who doesn’t like movies? And who doesn’t like saving money?

In the past month, however, they’ve gotten very serious about their business plan, and for the first time ever, I’ve made the jump into being a member. Many people I know are interested in how the experience works out, so in the first of a series of posts here at Blast-O-Rama, I’m going to get into the good, the bad, and the ugly of my experiences with the program, so that you can make better, informed financial decisions as a movie goer.

Founded in 2011, MoviePass is a subscription service which allows you to pay a flat rate for movie tickets. The program has had a number of price options over the years, with multiple ideas, but since August 2017, the idea has been simple - pay $9.95 a month, see unlimited movies in theaters near you.

When you obtain a ticket via MoviePass, the theater is receiving the full value for each ticket. Based on a ticket cost of $11.21 at my local theater, one screening in, they’re losing money on the first ticket, let alone the dozens of other movies I could conceivably see.

So, what’s the gain for MoviePass? MoviePass’s movie ticket service is a loss leader for a data-selling business. They intend to sell the data they learn about their customers (movie going habits and such) to theaters - sort of how Facebook and Google get rich by selling your interests and activities to advertisers.

After signing up, you’ll need to install the MoviePass app on your phone, and wait 5-7 business days for a special MoviePass debit card to be sent to you in the mail.

Once you have your card, you can look up movie times, and provided you’re within 300 feet of the theater, you can reserve a ticket. The full value of that ticket is deposited onto the card, and you pick up your tickets, a’la Fandango, MovieTickets.com, or any other movie ticket pre-paying service.

You can only see 2D, standard screenings of films, and you’re limited to one film every 24 hours. So if you see a movie at 7pm on Tuesday, you can’t go again until 7:01pm on Wednesday.

If you’re looking to do double features, only the first one is on them. If you have any family members, significant others, spouses, etc. who want to do this, they’ll need their own account too.

If you want to see what theaters you can use this in, scroll down to the bottom of the MoviePass.com homepage. Enter your zip code, and you can see where it works. For me, it’s basically every theater in my region, minus a second run theater in the area, weirdly enough.

Well, that’s where things are a bit early for me!

I signed up on MoviePass.com on September 7th, and as of this writing, I do not have my card yet, so I can’t use the service. (Shame, as I would’ve loved to use it for It.)

September is looking like a great month for movies, both big and small, such as Kingsman: The Golden Circle, mother!, American Assassin, The LEGO Ninjago Movie, American Made and more, so I’m hoping to get my money’s worth quickly.

What do you think, dear reader? Is risk/reward enough to sign up? Or is this another dot com with big dreams set to fail? Let’s learn together!

It (2017): A Review

Adapting a novel into a film is a thankless task.

You have to take hundreds - if not thousands - of pages, tear apart the concepts, break it down to its core values, shimmy it into a three act structure, hope it actually works as a film, and even if it does, deal with the response of both the author and their hardcore fans.

Sometimes though, greatness comes from this process, and the 2017 edition of It is one of those fantastic adaptations, which delivers simply because it does not hold the original Stephen King novel as a “holy text", side-steps the classic 1990 television adaptation, and anchors itself instead on an incredible cast.

For those unfamiliar with the plot, let’s break it down real quick - set in the fictional city of Derry, Maine (home to many Stephen King stories), it’s the Summer of 1989, and children are disappearing at a record rate. Seven kids, known as “The Losers", look to find the source of the disappearances, face their fears, and also encounter a very, very creepy clown by the name of Pennywise. Is he connected to the disappearances? (Of course he is.)

When the trailers for this new adaptation hit, the Stranger Things comparisons came early, as it seemed we were dealing with a throwback tale set in an absolutely accurate recreation of the 1980’s era. What’s interesting is instead, how much It is closer to a coming-of-age tale in the vein of Stand By Me, although one with considerably more gore and scares.

Less a horror show than a creepy thriller, which was a true surprise to me, the movie’s heart and soul is its incredible casting. All of “The Losers" are perfect, from the stuttering leader Bill (Midnight Special’s Jaeden Lieberher), smack talking Richie (Stranger Things’ Finn Wolfhard), and hypochondriac Eddie (Jack Dylan Grazer). This is going to be one of those movies which we will look back on and be stunned at the immense talent collected under one roof. The true star of the group, however, is Sophia Lillis as Beverly.

The lone girl of the group, Lillis brings a maturity beyond her years to the role, and gives the impression that she will be an actress to watch for years to come. Her work is some of the most complex and emotionally effecting in the film, and I cannot wait to see where she pops up next.

The big question for fans of It going into this new adaptation was clear - how is the new Pennywise? With Tim Curry creating a horrifying icon for decades to come with his performance in the 1990 TV adaptation, Bill Skarsgard had massive shoes to fill (insert clown shoes gag here), but I’m pleased to say he does well - precisely by not imitating Tim Curry. Skarsgard’s Pennywise is animalistic and vicious, tossing away the charisma of Curry and making the role his own.

It is not without its flaws - the first half of the movie, focused on individual vignettes of “The Losers" encountering fears of their own, felt disjointed and slow, but once the team comes together with one goal and one focus, the movie flies, becoming an enjoyable thriller, perfect for the Halloween season on its way.

The best adaptations make a creation their own - I’m pleased to say this edition of It truly did. Fans of King, fans of horror, fans of coming of age films - get ready to break bread and enjoy a night at the movies.

It is in theaters now.

Additional note: In a unique twist for this screening, I actually saw It accompanied by my mother. My mom introduced me to many things growing up - whether the music of Prince and the Talking Heads, countless stand-up comedy specials and Saturday Night Live - but one of the biggest passions she gave to me was that of reading, especially that of the work of Stephen King. It was clear that I had to take her to see this, and I’m pleased to share, for a hardcore King fan, the movie passed with flying colors.

Who says horror can’t bring a family together?

Dunkirk (2017): A Review

World War II has long been the basis for countless movies in the decades since its ending. A conflict with clear lines of a worldly good battling an unspeakable evil, the struggle has been mined repeatedly through countless films and genres. When word came that director/writer Christopher Nolan (best known for the Dark Knight Trilogy) was going to be taking on the conflict, I met the news with a shrug. Even as a massive fan of his work, I wondered what story remained - and this weekend he has delivered it with Dunkirk, one of the most visceral, intense, and riveting cinematic experiences I’ve ever had the pleasure of taking in.

What makes Dunkirk stand out among countless World War II films is precisely how it is delivered. Focusing on three unique narratives - one in the air, another on land, and another in the sea - the story cuts between three stories, told with little dialogue and a strange chronology. It sounds far more complicated than it is delivered, which is credit to the scripting of Nolan and editing of Lee Smith, Nolan’s longtime collaborator.

Dialogue is muffled, not always easy to hear, and the characters are mere vessels for us to insert ourselves into the action - but is that action which keeps you glued and riveted. Christopher Nolan, along with cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema and another incredible score from Hans Zimmer, shows us the intense cost of war captured and delivered in a way we’ve never seen before. It almost feels like a really dark amusement park ride, as we are witness and first-hand viewer to near unending adversity, explosions, drowning and violence. Yet at the same time there is an incredible pride pulsing through the film, admiring the heroism and bravery of those who fight. The movie never feels jingoistic, nor political, but instead focuses on those who serve their duty - even to their final end.

The cast, in all honesty, feels irrelevant, but includes a mixture of regular Nolan collaborators (Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy), admired actors (Kenneth Branagh, Mark Rylance), and newcomers (Fionn Whitehead, and ex-One Direction member Harry Styles, in a surprisingly not distracting appearance). They perform their roles well, none overacting or having a “tour de force", but in effect landing the plane of the entrancing action and large scale set pieces which fill Dunkirk’s lean 106 minute runtime. If anything, the focus on emotional spectacle rather than emotional performance allows Nolan’s best abilities to shine through here.

One of the most captivating moviegoing experiences I’ve been able to experience, I recommend seeing Dunkirk on the largest screen and the loudest sound which you can. My local theater offered 70mm, but if your options include IMAX or similar, I do recommend it. It’s an adventure for the eyes and ears, and a war film you will not soon forget.

Dunkirk is in theaters now.

Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017): A Review

One of my earliest memories in life is reading Web of Spider-Man #3, a dog-eared copy missing a cover, but a book filled with art of a hero with an unforgettable costume. I recall so vividly my mom bringing me home a copy of the Todd McFarlane-drawn Spider-Man #1 from the newsstand. Even though I was 5, maybe 6, I poured over every page, loving the insane webs and crazy body physics.

As I grew older, Spider-Man became my personal hero - someone trying to do the right thing, someone overcoming their own internal struggles and anxiety, and under the right guise, laughing it all away and achieving greatness.

It’s fair to say then, that I was absolutely blown away in 2002, as I graduated high school, my life long inspiration “graduated" to the big-screen, as Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man brought my hero to cinematic life and redefined movie going as we know it.

I write now as a 32 year old man. My heroes are on the screen every few months. The impossible became possible - the universes I read in 4-color panels are broadcast around the world on giant screens, rewatched on televisions and mobile devices. The nerds won.

With all of that, it would be completely understood were I underwhelmed by Spider-Man: Homecoming.

It’s the third version of the character in ten years. The sixth Spider-Man film overall. The sixteenth Marvel Cinematic Universe title.

Yet, here I am to tell you that director Jon Watts (Cop Car) has delivered not only the greatest Spider-Man movie to date, but also possibly the greatest superhero movie, period.

Introduced in last year’s Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man: Homecoming continues the tale of Tom Holland’s Peter Parker, a high-school sophomore with brilliant intellect, an aunt who worries about him (and raises him on her own), and his version of Spider-Man is a YouTube sensation for his acts of heroism in the Queens, NY region. The classic origin story is eschewed, picking up - literally - where we last saw him, with a video diary describing his involvement in the Steve/Tony war of last year. He’s now outfitted with a really cool suit (via Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark), a handler who mostly ignores him (Jon Favreau returning as Happy Hogan), and balances local heroics (cover story: “Stark Internship") with a stacked school schedule including the Academic Decathlon.

What makes the movie so clever is that the film delivers big by keeping the focus small. It’s been said that the Marvel Studios creative team wanted to make a movie which was as much The Breakfast Club as it was the latest superhero romp, and they delivered. The joy of the film isn’t always in the flashy super heroics (of which there is many), but in the full Peter Parker experience. His crush on senior class member Liz (Laura Harrier), his nerdy best pal Ned (Jacob Batalon), the sarcastic and surreal Michelle (Zendaya) - even the new school version of bully Flash Thompson (Tony Revolori) stands out here. We get a feel of what is life is, day to day - we even see him visit his bodega. For the first time on screen, the movie has as much a realized version of the kid behind the mask as it does the hero who shows up to save the day.

Thankfully, this is met with arguably the best on-screen villain for Spider-Man yet, Michael Keaton as the Vulture. Save your Birdman or Batman vs. Spider-Man jokes for another day, as Keaton puts in great work justifying why exactly his character becomes the force of crime which he does - which also has a convenient and smart tie to the MCU as a whole. There’s an incredible scene with his character and Tom Holland which I won’t dare spoil, but it’s one of the smartest, most clever versions of a hero/villain clash I’ve seen, and it ties perfectly into the greater whole of the film.

Some may have been concerned about the ties of Tony Stark to the film, along with any other MCU inclusions, but I’m glad to say that they are if anything, minor, and serve to help the plot moving forward. This is a Spider-Man movie, not the Iron Man and his Spider Pal movie which the marketing has driven home, and it’s all the better for it.

Spider-Man: Homecoming is a full-on crowd pleaser. The jokes are real and earned (not the standard MCU quips for days feel, as it’s more character moments than witty repartee), the action is brilliantly laid out and shot, and the set pieces grow in scope as the vision of the movie widens. Special props to the CG team here as well, for adding little “struggles" to the Spider-Man swinging and landing animations, as they help grow the vision of a newer, wet-behind-the-ears hero.

If you loved Tom Holland’s appearance in Civil War last year, good news - he lives and breathes the role. The best Peter, the best Spider-Man yet, hands down, coming after actors who seemed to excel as one or the other, but never both. I can’t wait to see him continue to play off of the rest of the universe, but more importantly, after this movie, I want him to have his own solo adventures for as long as he can.

Wrapped by a wonderful Michael Giacchino score, and some solid needle drops (whoever picked Spoon’s “The Underdog" is my new hero), there is not an inch of this movie which doesn’t deliver. I could not be more overjoyed about what Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios, along with Jon Watts, the writing team of Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley, and the brilliant cast have given us.

This one is for the little dude inside me who still is in awe in superheroes, and the grown man who loves great blockbuster filmmaking. Spider-Man: Homecoming is one of the greats. Period. Am I biased? Absolutely. But was I overjoyed? Hell yes.

Spider-Man: Homecoming is in theaters now.

Baby Driver (2017): A Review

Tell me if you’ve had this moment. You’re out driving. Your iPod, your smartphone, your CD player, or the radio hits the right song at the right time. You turn up the music, and life just syncs up. You hit the gas on the highs, the lights on the lows, and it all matches up. You feel like you’re in an idealized dream state. The soundtrack of your life rings in your ears.

What if that were an entire movie? That’s the ask, answered perfectly by director/writer Edgar Wright’s latest film, Baby Driver.

The story of the movie is one you’ve heard before, sure - our lead, Baby (Ansel Elgort) is a getaway driver for a local crime lord (Kevin Spacey). He’s got a crush - the local diner waitress (Lily James), and he’s got “one last job" to complete, and then he’s out.

We’ve seen this many many times before - Ben Affleck took it to the Oscars with The Town, heck, it’s even the story of Drive. But you’ve never seen it delivered to you like this. With Baby Driver, it’s not a newness of the message, it’s the inventiveness of the method.

With his filmography so far, Edgar Wright has shown a keen eye for visual trickery and unforgettable soundtracks. From the chill British vibes of Shaun of the Dead to the brilliant montages of Hot Fuzz to the indie-rock video game heavy Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and the throwback sounds of The World’s End, Wright has always melded visual storytelling with an audio component, but he has completed his masterwork with Baby Driver. It’s a musical, but no one’s singing - instead every tire squeal, every windshield wipe, every gun blast, it matches (or mixes perfectly) with one incredible mixtape. It’s explained away as the only way our hero can deal with his terrible tinnitus, playing music through his iPod’s earbuds (continuing the killer Summer MP3 players have had on the big screen), making him a better driver and getting away like no one else.

The result is one of the most unique, energetic, unforgettable and completely captivating films on the big screen in years. Wright says to see it big and loud, and I cannot agree more. Every single frame of the film’s 113 minute running time is meticulously considered and beautifully played out. As usual, there are easter eggs, visual gags and brilliant logic circles to reveal themselves to you on multiple watches. This is simply why I love movies in a pure, uncut form.

The performances equally match the brilliance behind the camera and on the page. Elgort plays a perfect Baby (his babyface working for him, not against him here). His romance with Lily James’ Debora is simple and sweet, and they are surrounded by a murderers row of scenery chewing criminal performances from the aforementioned Spacey, Jon Hamm, Jamie Foxx, and a far-too-short appearance from Jon Bernthal, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite actors.

I could gush about this movie for hours, for thousands of words, for many many years to come, but all I can say is this - you need to see it. See it in the theaters. Find the best screen, the best sound, and strap in. And then go buy the soundtrack or start blasting it on your smartphone. Edgar Wright made us the mixtape of the year, and the best way to check it out is on the silver screen.

Highest possible recommendation.

Baby Driver is in theaters now.

Wonder Woman (2017): A Review

First, in 1938, there was a Superman. Then, a year later, in 1939, came a Batman. And two whole years later, in 1941, came a Wonder Woman.

DC Comics calls them their “Trinity": the three holy archetypes of superheroes. Every hero since - whether from DC Comics, Marvel Comics, or countless others - has walked in their footsteps, yet - it took 76 years for the third to finally hit the big screen.

This past weekend, Wonder Woman finally hit cinemas. It’s been a long journey from the two-dimensional comic pages to the multiplex. Sure, there was the beloved 1970’s Linda Carter lead show, and yes, the Justice League cartoons, but it wasn’t until last year’s mostly maligned Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice that we finally got to see Diana, Princess of Themyscira in her full, widescreen glory. Portrayed by Fast and Furious’s Gal Gadot, she was easily the best thing in the film. And I’m happy to say that in this, the fourth film of the DC Comics Extended Universe, her first solo film, Warner Bros. finally got the superhero movie magic right.

Building off of the photo seen briefly in Batman v Superman, Wonder Woman is a period piece. Set in the era of World War I (a nice change from all the World War II movies we get), we see Diana growing up as an Amazon warrior on Themyscira, trained in secret by her aunt Antiope (Robin Wright), much to the chagrin of her mother, Queen Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen).

Diana is proving herself quite capable as a warrior, showing an adeptness at both hand to hand combat and weaponry, when sure enough, the World War makes its way to the hidden island’s door, in the form of castaway Steve Trevor (Chris Pine).

Trevor is a US operative acting for British intelligence, his plane shot down by the Germans due to his stealing of specific intel - rescued by Diana, he is pursued by the Germans, and in this moment, Diana seizes her destiny. She must join the fight, she must stop the war, and she must fulfill the Amazon’s destiny of stopping the God of War himself, Ares.

The movie which follows is a tremendous ride - from the fish-out-of-water scenes (a’la Thor) which allow Gadot and Pine to build tremendous chemistry, to the beautiful action (including a blood-pumping sequence in No Man’s Land, Wonder Woman’s true coming out party), this is a pitch perfect superhero romp for the Summer.

Gal Gadot absolutely shines as Wonder Woman. Her charisma and enthusiasm shown in Batman v Superman are met with a full character performance here, Diana’s love and honor a driving force, causing for probably the most positive and inspiring hero in a superhero film (certainly a DC Comics one!) this side of Chris Evans’ Captain America. Why wasn’t Henry Cavill’s Superman this inspiring? Chris Pine as Steve Trevor is perfect - probably the first truly well-rounded love interest of any superhero film - and he reminds us why we all loved him as Kirk, bringing the same level of awkward charisma which won us over back in 2009. They’re matched by a great supporting cast, including the scene stealing Etta Candy (Lucy Davis), and Trevor’s pack of mercenaries (SaÁ¯d Taghmaoui, Ewen Bremner, and Eugene Brave Rock as Sameer, Charlie and Chief, respectively.)

Wonder Woman succeeds perfectly as a great superhero film in a time of great superhero films (even if I have some quibbles with the third act), and from the perspective of me - a thirty-something middle-class white male - it’s a positive sign because it means that DC Comics movies can finally stand toe-to-toe with Marvel, and Hey! Justice League could be good!

But I recognize that for others, Wonder Woman means even more:

For these people, Wonder Woman isn’t just a “fun movie" - it’s a big step forward. And really - if what is a fun time at the movies for me can mean all of those things as well, goddamnit - Wonder Woman is even better for it.

Go see it. Bring those you love. You’ll have a blast. Promise.

Wonder Woman is in theaters now.

Alien: Covenant (2017): A Review

Back in 2012, Ridley Scott returned to the world he created in 1979’s Alien with the wildly divisive Prometheus, a prequel of sorts, focusing on an ill-fated journey into a planet to discover, essentially, the beginning of life.

It had its good parts (Michael Fassbender as the android David, that creepy-cool self-surgery sequence), its bad parts (Charlize Theron’s daddy issues, a stupid crew), but unlike most, I enjoyed it…even if its connective tissue to Alien was flimsy at best, and it was kind of a beautifully shot yet incredibly dumb sci-fi thriller.

Spurred by Prometheus’ relative success, and undoubtably because Hollywood LOVES cinematic universes, the 79-year-old Ridley Scott is back in the saddle again of a proper Alien movie - Alien: Covenant.

Taking place 10 years after Prometheus, Covenant attempts to bridge the gap between the Prometheus era and the Alien era with decidedly mixed results.

Yet another ill-fated Weyland Yutani ship (how is this company still standing?) is off to an important space expedition. In this instance, it’s a colony of 2000, with 1500 embryos, 15 or so crew members, and 1 android (Michael Fassbender as an upgraded version of David, named Walter) in search of a planet to colonize and continue the human race. One solar flare later, and the crew members are awoken early, and find a mysterious signal on a planet - a planet just as inhabitable, just as worthy of human life, and sure enough, closer to them as their original destination.

As I’m sure you’re already predicting, this planet is filled with the titular Aliens - or Xenomorphs, as the hardcore fans know them. The movie quickly shifts from quiet sci-fi journey to creature feature once they hit the planet (which is hiding a dark mystery among it’s inhabitants, of course) and unfortunately, the urge for gore and violence takes away any instance of getting to know the cast. It’s a shame, as the actors feel pretty game - Danny McBride as a spaceship pilot is inspired casting, Katherine Waterston seems ready (if miscast) to be the new-age Ripley, Billy Crudup as a Captain with a strong holy faith - but instead, the blood must flow.

Much like Prometheus, the visuals are gorgeous (thanks to cinematographer Dariusz Wolski), the score is pretty solid (Jed Kurzel), but there is a strong emptiness for the movies 123 minute runtime. For every inspired moment (like the intense gore of the Xenomorph birthing scenes, or a Xenomorph POV shot), there are many sequences which just follow aimless thriller beats.

I guess what I’m saying is this - for a take on the Alien franchise that seems so focused on the question of “How", whether it’s “How did mankind come to be?“ or “How did the Xenomorphs from Alien get started?“, we’re now left asking a bigger question - “Why?“ Like “why did we need these details?“ or “why did this movie get made?“

I really wanted to like Alien: Covenant. Instead, now, just hours after leaving the theater, I’m struggling to remember the majority of it. I think it’s time to let this franchise be.

Alien: Covenant is in theaters now.

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017): A Review

Have you ever felt like you might be completely insane?

Because that’s how I’m feeling about King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.

Looking across the Internet, the word on this movie is pretty much very not good. A Metacritic score of 41. A Rotten Tomatoes score of a VERY rotten 27%.

I guess I’m part of the 27%, then?

For reasons unknown to many, including myself, this movie was seen as the beginning of a SIX MOVIE saga. Weird, right? I think it’s a given that won’t be happening, but what I can appreciate is the surreal, stylish and completely ridiculous movie we did get.

Taking the Arthurian legend and turning it on its head, director Guy Richie takes every ounce of overwhelming style and fast-cutting insanity he’s able to muster and throws it at the screen.

Sons of Anarchy’s Charlie Hunnam is Arthur for this latest remake, and his version is a bit different. He’s street-wise, he wears fur coats, he’s got a sweet beard. Thankfully, he doesn’t have Hunnam’s terrible American accent holding him back.

His father killed before him, Arthur does not realize or achieve his true destiny until he pulls the fabled Excalibur from the stone (I’m realizing now that I don’t entirely recall if the sword is called such by name, but I digress) - and it turns out that very sword allows him to go all Super Saiyan, which perturbs the current king - a scenery chewing, monologuing-like-his-life-depended-on-it Jude Law.

You know where this is going - Arthur lives up to his name and restores order and justice. What you don’t know is how it gets there - which is through the magic of countless montages, witty and silly dialogue, and a pretty great score by Daniel Pemberton. (Seriously, check out his theme for the movie.)

I’m pretty sure that this movie undertook many many edits, as King Jude Law (yeah, he had a name, but who cares) clearly goes through a number of variants of his evil plan, and I think his daughter was meant to be more important than she was, and I’m not sure, but I think Merlin is female in this one (but it’s not made clear), but despite all of that confusion - the style of it all charms.

I admit - I’m totally in the bag for Guy Richie. I loved Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, I still enjoy his Sherlock Holmes movies, even if Sherlock did a better modern version, and I swear that too many of you slept on The Man from UNCLE. That said, this is King Arthur viewed through the prism of too many video games - in all the best and worst ways.

Yeah, it’s grimy, yeah, it’s not terribly colorful, but if you dug God of War or Shadows of Mordor, you’ll probably enjoy the hell out of this.

It sounds like faint praise, but were I 13, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword would be my favorite movie. As it stands, I’m nearly 20 years older, and I still had a lot of fun.

Catch it on a matinee or VOD, check your brain, and enjoy the sheer audacity of it all - I’m sure there will be a cult of King Arthur: Legend of the Sword one day.

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is in theaters now.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017): A Review

Way, way, back in the year 2014, everyone - including the nerdiest of nerds - thought that Marvel Studios was going to make its biggest mistake yet.

Riding high on an incredible run which peaked with the first team-up of The Avengers, Marvel was invincible. Nothing could stop them.

Nothing, we thought, except making a movie out of arguably their most obscure team of heroes.

Obscurity instead seemed to be the name of the game, as Guardians of the Galaxy succeeded by building upon the lack of expectations, tossing away notions of what came before to put together a crazy, hilarious, 70’s rock-fueled sci-fi romp starring a sitcom supporting cast member, an angry green female warrior, an overly serious ex-pro wrestler, a CGI raccoon and a tree.

Hundreds of millions of dollars later, the sequel, the appropriately titled Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 has hit theaters, this time facing their biggest enemy yet…expectations. You can barely move an inch without being bombarded by some sort of Guardians-branded merchandise, and the world is expecting another triumph from writer-director James Gunn.

Folks, I have good news. Gunn has delivered, even if he’s going to shun some of you away with this new installment of the saga.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is what it says in the title. More. More needle drops, more Rocket, more Groot, more Star-Lord, more Gamora, even more Nebula and the Ravagers. Just more, more, more, more, more.

The plot, as it is laid out, is pretty simple. Set just months after the first movie, the Guardians are doing a mission for the Sovereigns, a gold-skinned race of genetically superior beings. Rocket decides to pull a fast one on them, and while completing their contracted upon mission, steals some of the Sovereigns all important, super valuable batteries. This causes the Sovereigns to chase the Guardians into space, into an incredible chase sequence - one, which they just barely escape thanks to a mysterious man in a mysterious ship.

Who is that man? Kurt Russell!

OK, he’s a Celestial (read: immortal God) named Ego, but he’s Kurt freaking Russell.

Turns out that Ego - and his assistant, an antenna’d alien named Mantis (Pom Klementieff, seemingly channeling Bjork) - have been searching for the Guardians. Why? Star-Lord is his son.

And that’s what allows Guardians Vol. 2 to channel the heart of the first, while allowing itself to get absolutely weird in the second. What made Guardians of the Galaxy tick was the universal idea that one’s family isn’t necessarily those of blood relation, but by those who rise to the occasion and support you in your time of need. James Gunn uses this sci-fi canvas to explore all sorts of matters of family - from absentee fathers, to the divide of siblings - but somehow makes it all work alongside awe-inspiring technicolor visuals, hilarious and brilliant action sequences, and a lovely soundtrack.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention how much some of the elements of the movie cut a little close to home, and some of the needle-drops were touched with personal memories - but when push comes to shove, that’s really what a good mix tape is all about, right? Grab a bunch of things you love, put them together for an audience with an open mind and open ears, and let them feel the emotions and journey you wish to set them upon.

James Gunn has prepared another volume of Guardians for us all to enjoy, and while not every track will work for everyone here - it’s a hell of a journey to be on.

I absolutely loved this, and I can’t wait for Vol. 3. Highly recommended.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is in theaters now.

The Blast-O-Rama Summer 2017 Movie Guide

While the “event" movie season has grown to encompass the entire year (see Star Wars and Harry Potter dominating the Christmas season, and Logan and Deadpool showing that February can be great times for superhero films), there is no period of the year quite like the Summer.

The temperatures are high, the theaters are cool, and there are a ton of great movies with which to kick back, enjoy the air conditioning and an iced soda, and be transported away via the silver screen.

With Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 kicking things off this week (although some would argue The Fate of the Furious was the unofficial start of the season), I figured it was the perfect time to take a look at the Summer as a whole and start plotting out my weeks ahead.

I’m anticipating each one of these movies, and I recognize - this isn’t all encompassing, but that’s not what this is about. This is about the movies I’m gonna be making sure I catch in theaters.

I’ve linked to trailers where possible, so that you may get a taste of the movies, and written some brief thoughts on each flick.

All release dates are updated and correct as of the time of publication, on April 30th, 2017. All dates come from the 2017 in Film page on Wikipedia.

May 5

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

When Guardians of the Galaxy hit theaters in Summer 2014, we were all blown away by how deftly writer/director James Gunn took a mix of some of Marvel’s most obscure and underlined heroes and turned it into (arguably) the best film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe thus far. Three years later, the stakes are much higher, as the sequel gets to open up the Summer movie season. Thankfully, if the trailers have been any indication, Vol. 2 gets things right by focusing on the fractured family at the core of its story…plus some incredible needle drops from classic rock songs both beloved and obscure. Hopes are high for this one, but I think they’ll be delivered upon.

May 12

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

I might be alone on this, but I’m - to this day - still a big Guy Richie fan. He has definitely lost some fans from his Snatch and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels era, but I still love his movies - even the Sherlock Holmes movies. His interpretation of King Arthur looks like big, dumb fun, and I feel like this is going to be a movie - like say, Speed Racer - that will have a level of style over substance that will gain a cult following for some time to come.

May 19

Alien: Convenant

While many had issues with Prometheus, I loved it, and the idea of a proper Alien sequel which builds off of its foundation and adds both Danny McBride as a cowboy hat wearing spaceship pilot and Katherine Waterston as an ersatz Ripley is very inviting. As one would expect from a Ridley Scott film, the footage so far promises a visual stunner, if nothing else, but I feel like this will be a wild and weird creature feature.

May 26

Baywatch

Many movies have tried to follow in the footsteps of the 21 Jump Street franchise and failed. (Looking at you, CHIPS.) But this Dwayne Johnson-starring take on the classic beach-based David Hasselhoff series seems to have learned all the right lessons. Add the fact that Zac Efron’s work in the Neighbors franchise made him a secret comedy weapon, and chances are, this will be the Summer comedy to deliver.

June 2

Wonder Woman

Thus far, the DC Extended Universe hasn’t really quite delivered the way that the fans, and the studio, would like. Yes, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad made far more money than I ever would, but let’s be honest - it’s not Marvel money, yet. The Patty Jenkins-directed solo debut for Wonder Woman is looking pretty great thus far, and while I’m not one of the folks handwringing about how much marketing has happened so far (they probably want Guardians of the Galaxy out of the way first), I do wonder if the reception of the first two films has people already counting this one out. I think it looks pretty good, and Gadot has been the highlight of the universe so far, so my hopes are high.

June 9

The Mummy

Sometimes, during the Summer, you want big, dumb fun. I think that The Mummy is going to be one such film. Hilariously edited trailer aside, with Tom Cruise in the lead, this movie looks to be Monster: Impossible. I just hope that they don’t try to jam in too much universe building.

June 23

The Big Sick

Sadly no trailer for this one yet, but the adaptation of the real life love story of Emily V. Gordon (The Meltdown) and Kumail Nanjiani (Silicon Valley) won the hearts of Sundance and SXSW alike, and I can’t wait to see this hit the screen. Funny, heartwarming, romantic - this is the date movie to beat this Summer.

June 30

Baby Driver (June 28)

While the world never got to see the culmination of an Edgar Wright-directed Ant-Man movie, it sure feels like we’re about to get the next best thing - a brand new, original motion picture from the insane and kinetic mind of Wright, hands down my favorite director working today. A music driven blast of car racing action, this is my most anticipated movie of the Summer.

July 7

Spider-Man: Homecoming

Last Summer, audiences worldwide were charmed by the debut of Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War. This July, he gets his first solo outing as a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and as the trailers have proven, everything we like about the MCU is here: awesome casting, a great adaptation mixing elements of all the different versions of the character over the years, and a true sense of heart. I am very very excited for this one.

July 14

War for the Planet of the Apes

Who would’ve thought how absolutely great the relaunched Planet of the Apes series would be? Taking a series that was, at best known as 70’s sci-fi schlock, and at worst remembered by the awful Tim Burton remake, and turning into intelligent, affecting sci-fi has been an incredible move to see happen, and War will end the trilogy with the same level of seriousness and pathos that the series has held so far. This is a dark horse candidate for best movie of the Summer.

July 21

Dunkirk

Christopher Nolan has delivered countless great movies over the years: the Dark Knight Trilogy, Inception, Interstellar…and it’s on that track record that I am blindly trusting what feels like a pretty on-the-nose World War II film? I’m hoping that Nolan brings something truly awe-inspiring to the proceedings, especially given how much of it was filmed in IMAX. Fingers are crossed.

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

It’s been a very very long time since Luc Besson gave us the sci-fi fantasy of The Fifth Element, but he’s back at it with the graphic novel adaptation Valerian. The visuals for this film look absolutely breathtaking, but given Cara Delevingne’s performance in Suicide Squad, I hope you can be OK with me assuming that while the visuals will be sumptuous, the story and performances may leave something to be desired.

July 28

Atomic Blonde

Lady John Wick is an easy layup to get me in the theaters. Thankfully, this movie seems to have something backing up its claims - and it’s not just the shared director. Atomic Blonde looks to be an awesome spy thriller with incredibly intense action, and Charlize Theron is fulfilling the destiny laid before her when she became etched into cult canon as Furiosa - she’s kicking ass, taking names, and looking awesome while doing it.

August 4

The Dark Tower

While I have no idea what is taking the trailer so long, this long-in-development Stephen King adaptation has all the right moves going for it on the casting side of things, so I’m there day one. I just hope they decide to, y’know, market it to people. And soon.

Detroit

Director Kathryn Bigelow has a hell of a track record, including the Oscar nominated Zero Dark Thirty and The Hurt Locker. Her next movie, taking on the 1960’s Detroit riots, looks to be just as intense, eye-opening, and impossible to ignore as those films. If you haven’t seen the trailer yet, watch it now - you’ll be hooked.

August 18

Logan Lucky

Steven Soderbergh is back, with a movie he’s describing as “an anti-glam version of an Ocean’s movie“. Pretty perfect for the guy who gave us the Ocean’s trilogy in the first place, right? The cast is incredible (Adam Driver, Daniel Craig, Channing Tatum), the idea is sound. I’m there to wrap up my Summer.

That’s my list. Pretty good, right? I’m sure I might see some other movies this Summer, but these are the ones I am moving heaven and Earth for.

What are you looking forward to this Summer? Sound off in the comments.

Free Fire (2017): A Review

Sometimes the best movies can come from the simplest of ideas.

Free Fire is one such movie.

It’s a late night in the 1970’s. Two IRA members, Chris (Cillian Murphy) and Frank (Michael Smiley) are looking to buy guns. They have two helpers, Stevo (Sam Riley) and Bernie (Enzo Cilenti). The deal is being worked through an intermediary - Ord (Armie Hammer), who was connected to the IRA members by Justine (Brie Larson).

The salesman? A quirky South African, Vernon (Sharlto Copley), accompanied by his ex-Black Panther assistant Martin (Babou Ceesay), and their associates Harry (Jack Reynor) and Gordon (Noah Taylor).

The guns aren’t exactly what the Irishmen asked for.

The money is high.

The tension is high.

And like so, a 90 minute standoff begins.

Director Ben Wheatley (High Rise) has put together an awesome, ultra violent pot boiler here, combining wonderfully shot action with an absolute murderer’s row of character actors.

Every character gets a great moment to shine, and the violence, while brutal, remains silly and almost slap-sticky. Sort of Tarantino’s Looney Tunes here, or a version of The Hateful Eight if it skipped to the violence and was set in the 1970’s. To share more would be to head into spoiler territory, so I’m keeping my review, like the movie, appropriately space.

There’s not a lot of substance to the movie - it does what it says on the tin - but what is there is incredibly enjoyable and will ensure that Free Fire is a cult classic for sometime to come. Hopefully, this replaces The Boondocks Saints on the “freshman year of college" movie shelf, as it has such wonderful accessibility and hilarious moments. Very much recommended.

Free Fire is in theaters now.

The KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE Trailer Arrives!

The long-awaited first look at the sequel to 2015’s Kingsman: The Secret Service has finally arrived.

Following a clever trailer tease (seriously, the only good trailer-for-a-trailer I’ve ever seen), this trailer gives us a glimpse at the latest adventure of newly minted Kingsman Eggsy (Taron Egerton) as he heads to the states, and encounters the American version of Kingsman - the Statesman, including a rowdy cowboy named Tequila (Channing Tatum), and also grabs the eye of this installment’s villain, Poppy (Julianne Moore), a member of the titular “Golden Circle".

youtu.be/6Nxc-3WpM…

Director Matthew Vaughn returns for this installment, and his sense of style and adventure is back with him, and that bodes well, given that Vaughn doesn’t normally do sequels…to the detriment of the Kick-Ass franchise.

KIngsman: The Secret Service was a gloriously gleeful and gory surprise, and if this trailer is any indication, Kingsman: The Golden Circle will continue on in its footsteps.

Kingsman: The Golden Circle hits theaters on September 22, 2017.

Colossal (2017): A Review

One of the most interesting things about genre films is how well the genre can be used as a metaphor for a real life issue. But what if one could use genre to literally explore a real-life issue?

That’s where Nacho Vigalondo’s latest film, Colossal comes in.

Anne Hathaway stars as Gloria, an unemployed New York City-based writer. After spending one too many nights partying hard and drinking harder, her boyfriend Tim (Legion’s Dan Stevens) dumps her, sending her back to her hometown.

While in her hometown, she reconnects with a childhood friend, a local bartender named Oscar (Jason Sudeikis), and also discovers that, well, when she’s drunk, she seems to control a giant monster who has been terrorizing Seoul, South Korea.

Yep! That’s the type of movie we’re in for here, folks! Strap in!

Yes, the alcoholism-as-real-monster idea isn’t the cleverest of takes, but it’s met with gusto by Vigalondo and his very very game cast, including Hathaway proving - much as she did in Rachel Getting Married - that her strongest work comes as a screw-up, and Jason Sudeikis seeing his “affable asshole" role to it’s strongest extreme yet.

The movie is an enjoyable watch, and truly seems to have fun with its genre trappings, but the biggest issue with Colossal is it’s a fun idea that would’ve best been explored as a short, not as much as the lengthy dark comedy that the movie results in. Great performances only go so far when the story itself feels a bit threadbare and loose.

For fans of the kaiju genre, this is a great mash-up of tastes, but for all others, you may find yourself checking your watch. I recommend making this a VOD rental.

Colossal is in theaters now.

The Fate of the Furious (2017): A Review

Want to hear me discuss the Fast and Furious franchise with the Super Art Fight crew? Check out this podcast episode!

Since 2001, the Fast & Furious franchise has been a reliable mixture of fast cars, strong brotherhood, and insane action. That said, since the fifth installment - the appropriately titled Fast Five - the movie has taken a hard pivot from the worlds of racing and street-level crime to James Bond-esq international intrigue and Avengers-like super heroics.

Furious 7 closed a chapter, with the real-life passing of prominent co-star Paul Walker (and his character Brian being given a proper send-off) and now, the shift to massive blockbuster entertainment is complete with the ridiculous and insane The Fate of the Furious.

Starting in Cuba, the story picks up with Dom (Vin Diesel) and Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) finally living out their long awaited honeymoon. One thrilling street racing set piece later - where Dom has to race to save the neck of his cousin, because family - Dom finds himself confronted by dreadlocked hacker Cipher (Charlize Theron). Cipher has something important on Dom. What exactly? We, the audience, aren’t sure, but it’s enough for Cipher to make Dom turn against his wife, and his entire makeshift family.

That’s right, harkening back to the original The Fast & The Furious, Dom is the big bad in this one, and they’re pulling out all the stops.

Our team of racing/hacking/stealing/good doing heroes is back together, including Roman (Tyrese Gibson), hacker Tej (Ludacris), super agent Hobbs (Dwayne “The Rock" Johnson), and Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel).

They’re of course backed by the enigmatic Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell), returning from Furious 7…albeit now supported by a weird, dull young agent played by Scott Eastwood, Hollywood’s latest attempt to make fetch happen.

The twist? To take down Dom, they now need to work with Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), the big bad of the last film - someone outside of the family, leading to all sorts of tension and mistrust.

For fans of the franchise, this is the silly melodrama we’ve come to love, the twists and turns of a soap opera, but kept afloat by incredible action.

Thankfully, the action holds true to the Fast & Furious legacy, with no less than 4 major set-pieces, including the aforementioned Cuba race, an incredible “zombie cars" sequence, an unforgettable action sequence with Jason Statham on a plane, and a stunning finale involving ice and a goddamned nuclear submarine.  While we’ve got a proper G.I. Joe in the cast, this is seriously the closest Hollywood has come to a full-on M.A.S.K. film, and it’s an absolute blast.

The bar has been raised high for the on-screen chaos, but what keeps the movie from reaching the heights of prior installments is the lack of growth for the whole cast of characters.

In this day and age of cinematic universes, there seems to be a focus on giving all of the characters a moment to shine and a reason to be involved - the story here, while providing some beautiful action, executed wonderfully by director F. Gary Gray, seems to leave me wanting for new plot lines for anyone not named Dom, Hobbs or Shaw. Scott Eastwood’s addition is an absolute zero, shy of giving Roman someone to dunk on (extra points if you can remember the character’s name), but the biggest missed opportunity is Charlize Theron’s Cipher.

The Fast & Furious franchise has had villains which, while not necessarily memorable, have been if anything, threatening. The idea of Furiosa appearing in a Fast movie seems like an obvious layup, but instead, she’s mostly left to yelling at people to hack things faster. Sure, on paper, her achievements are greater than any other villain within the franchise, but there definitely seems to be something missed here.

Any way you slice it, even with these issues, The Fate of the Furious is a great time, especially for long-time fans. There are countless callbacks to the history of the franchise, and the stunts rarely let up. Check your brain at the door, strap in, see this movie big and loud, and get ready for a blast.

If you dig the franchise already - you’re going to love every minute of it. For the newbies…maybe watch 5-7 first.

The Fate of the Furious is in theaters now.

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI Teaser Trailer

The wait has ended. The countdown has officially begun.

We now have our first look at the eighth film of the Star Wars Saga, Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Premiered today as expected at Star Wars Celebration 2017 in Orlando, Florida, you could practically hear the Internet explode as the trailer hit YouTube as it was being streamed live at the convention.

www.youtube.com/watch

Following up from 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the film - written and directed by Looper’s Rian Johnson - picks up directly where we left of with Rey (Daisy Ridley) meeting the legendary Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). Also starring John Boyega (returning as Finn) and Oscar Issac (as everyone’s favorite space boyfriend, X-Wing pilot Poe Dameron), the excitement begins a new as the focus shifts more to our new generation of characters, and the original series starts to fade into the back.

We also received a gorgeous new poster, below.

So, what do you think of the trailer? Let’s be honest - we were all in for a ticket from the minute the credits rolled on The Force Awakens, but now we have even MORE to speculate about.

If you wish to view the full The Last Jedi panel from this morning, you can check out the archived stream here.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi arrives in theaters on December 15, 2017.

What a Joy The First THOR: RAGNAROK Teaser Is!

Without so much as a teaser trailer for the teaser trailer, the first trailer for Marvel Studios’ fall release, Thor: Ragnarok has hit the web…and it’s pretty damn great!

www.youtube.com/watch

Directed by What We Do In the Shadows’ Taika Waititi, this looks to be an absolutely weird, wild and importantly Fun (with a capital F!) installment in the Thor franchise, which frankly, has been one of the lower-tier Marvel franchises so far.

Taking notes from Planet Hulk, our thunder god looks to be sent to another planet to battle the afformentioned Incredible Green Guy, thanks to his new baddie, Cate Blanchett looking great as Hela.

BRING ON THIS MOVIE!

Thor: Ragnarok hits theaters on November 3, 2017.

Get Ready for COCO with 'Dante's Lunch'!

Earlier this month, Disney/Pixar gave us the first glimpse at their Fall release, the long-awaited Coco, their film focusing on latino culture and the Day of the Dead holiday.

I enjoyed the first trailer, even if I felt it was a bit slight, and it’s clear Disney knew that they needed to up the awareness and charm…so in turn, we’ve got a brief, brand-new short called Dante’s Lunch, starring Dante, the Mexican hairless dog appearing in Coco this November.

Enjoy!

www.youtube.com/watch

Coco hits theaters on November 22, 2017.

A Very, Very Creepy First Trailer For IT

What was the last great Stephen King movie adaptation?

The Mist? The Green Mile?

Whatever your favorite, if you’re a Stephen King fan, the television miniseries adaptation of It, complete with Tim Curry as the clown Pennywise probably looms strong in your head (filled with fear) and your heart (filled with fondness).

In turn, you’ve probably been pretty worried about the movie adaptation of the book.

We already know that one major plot element will not be included here - I’ll avoid mentioning it due to major spoilers - but with the official trailer released today, I have some very high hopes for the AndrÁ©s Muschietti (Mama)-directed take.

Check it out:

www.youtube.com/watch

Yeah. That looks really creepy and crazy and good, right? And it also scratches those good-good retro-horror vibes which Stranger Things did for us last Summer, yeah?

From the press release:

When children begin to disappear in the town of Derry, Maine, a group of young kids are faced with their biggest fears when they square off against an evil clown named Pennywise, whose history of murder and violence dates back for centuries.

“IT" stars Bill SkarsgÁ¥rd (“Allegiant,“ TV’s “Hemlock Grove") as the story’s central villain, Pennywise. An ensemble of young actors also star in the film, including Jaeden Lieberher (“Midnight Special"), Jeremy Ray Taylor (“Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip"), Sophia Lillis (“37"), Finn Wolfhard (TV’s “Stranger Things"), Wyatt Oleff (“Guardians of the Galaxy"), Chosen Jacobs (upcoming “Cops and Robbers"), Jack Dylan Grazer (“Tales of Halloween") and Nicholas Hamilton (“Captain Fantastic").

Muschietti is directing “IT" from a screenplay adapted by Chase Palmer & Cary Fukunaga and Gary Dauberman. Dan Lin, Roy Lee, Seth Grahame-Smith, David Katzenberg and Barbara Muschietti are producing, with Marty P. Ewing, Doug Davison and Jon Silk serving as executive producers.

The behind-the-scenes creative team includes director of photography Chung-Hoon Chung (“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl"), production designer Claude ParÁ© (“Rise of the Planet of the Apes"), editor Jason Ballantine (“The Great Gatsby"), and costume designer Janie Bryant (TV’s “Mad Men").

A presentation of New Line Cinema, “IT" will be released worldwide beginning September 8, 2017, by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Entertainment Company.

Let my optimism remain strong. This September, lets all get spooked at the cineplex, yeah?

It hits theaters on September 8, 2017.

Escape to Alpha in the new VALERIAN trailer!

It’s hard to believe, but it’s been TWENTY YEARS since director Luc Besson gave us the wild and creative sci-fi romp The Fifth Element. But after a prior teaser trailer, and this longer look released today, it sure seems Besson is ready to return to sci-fi glory with the beautiful and adventurous Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.

www.youtube.com/watch

Besides having a wonderfully grandiose title, Valerian is based off of a long running comic series from France, giving the movie the potential to grow huge, and spin-off countless sequels, sure to delight the studio…but for me, I don’t care, I’m just excited to see surreal, imaginative, and goddamned colorful sci-fi hit the screen.

I just hope the public doesn’t ignore it, a’la John Carter, and Cara Delevingne gives us a better performance than she did in Suicide Squad.

Here’s your official synopsis:

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets hits theaters on July 21, 2017.

Your Friendly, Neighborhood Spider-Man Returns in New HOMECOMING Trailer!

You had to know that this was coming, what with the three posters released last weekend - we’ve got a brand-spanking new trailer for Spider-Man: Homecoming, the official solo outing of the web-crawler within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Pitting Peter Parker against the Vulture (played, in a wonderful twist, by Batman himself, Michael Keaton), this trailer builds on the promise of the original trailer released late last year.

There are tons of great character moments, which helps with the grounded feel of the story, versus the world-in-peril stakes of the past few Marvel movies, and I like the idea that Peter needs to earn his spot in the world of heroes.

What do you think? Check it out:

www.youtube.com/watch

Here’s the official synopsis for the movie, per Sony/Marvel Studios:

Spider-Man: Homecoming hits theaters on July 7, 2017.

Justice For All: JUSTICE LEAGUE Trailer Debuts!

As promised by a series of seemingly never-ending mini-teaser trailers earlier this week, Warner Bros has finally revealed a proper trailer for this November’s DC Comics superhero mashup extravaganza, Justice League.

Uniting all the major heroes under one group and paying off the hints from Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, we’ve got Batman (Ben Affleck), The Flash (Ezra Miller), Cyborg (Ray Fisher), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), and Aquaman (Jason Momoa) uniting after the passing of Superman (Henry Cavill) to be one giant, butt-kicking force.

A force who apparently use a Beatles cover as their collective theme song.

Here’s the official synopsis via the WB:

Directed by Zack Snyder, the movie clearly has style for days, and the SDCC trailer last summer promised that we’d see a bit of a sense of humor, but what does this trailer feel like? Here it is, for your eyeballs:

www.youtube.com/watch

Personally, I feel like that one of the biggest issues of the DC Extended Universe is that there’s yet to be an understanding that, while it’s nice to have this lineup together on screen, we need to care about why they’re together - and this is really lacking the umph that seeing the Avengers form as a unit on screen then.

Is it an issue of the writing? Or an issue of timing?

We’ll have to see. It’s nice to see some quips, though.

In addition to today’s new trailer, Warner Bros has released a whole slew of posters for the movie, including a logo teaser, a group poster, and character posters for the cast. Check em out!

[gallery ids=“21725,21726,21728,21727,21723,21729,21724”]

Justice League unites in theaters on November 10, 2017.

Spidey Chills in New SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING Poster (Updated! x2!)

While I’m pretty sure that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 will be great, and Thor: Ragnarok is looking better and better, the Marvel movie that I am most on the hook for this year is Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Serving as the official coming out party of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, after his awesome debut in Captain America: Civil War last Summer, I was pretty stoked on the movie after it’s first trailer came out late last year.

Today, however, we’ve got a brand new poster, and it just exudes style and character.

The blazer, the headphones, the teenage chill, I’m way into it.

Even better? What I assume is the slogan, as tweeted by the official Marvel account:

That is classic Spider-Man in a nutshell. I think Marvel has done it again.

Spider-Man: Homecoming swings into theaters on July 7, 2017.

UPDATE - 3:03pm

We’ve got a second one!

UPDATE - Saturday, March 25, 10:03am!

We’ve got a 3rd one!

Five Stars? Try a Thumbs Up! Netflix Ratings Changes Are Coming.

Last night, via The Verge, word hit the Internet that everyone’s favorite content streaming service, Netflix, would be making a rather dramatic change to the way that we rate the different programs on the app.

Currently, when you see a TV-show, movie, or other video on Netflix, you can rate it on a scale of 1-5 stars, 1 being the lowest, 5 being the highest.

According to the article, this will now be changing to a Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down system, a’la Siskel and Ebert.

The reason for the change is, apparently to improve the experience for you - the user.

Pulled from the article:

“What’s more powerful: you telling me you would give five stars to the documentary about unrest in the Ukraine; that you’d give three stars to the latest Adam Sandler movie; or that you’d watch the Adam Sandler movie ten times more frequently?“ Yellin said. “What you do versus what you say you like are different things.“

This somewhat frustrates me as a user, as this reduces the reviewing process to a simple good/bad extreme. We have this issue right now among many other services - Rotten Tomatoes forcing reviewers to say positive or negative, even dating apps like Tinder - and I feel this type of reaction is exactly why everything on the web is seen as THE BEST or THE WORST and any type of nuance in opinion, let alone conversation, is falling by the wayside.

Maybe I’m a grumpy old man yelling at the cloud here, but sometimes I like giving a 3-star film a chance, or telling others to try something that may not be perfect, but is still worth their time. You may note that I never put a score or letter review to things here, and that’s exactly why - sometimes an experience is greater than a good or bad separation, and it bums me out that we’re starting to lose the middle.

Maybe I’m wrong, maybe this will be the best innovation to ever come to Netflix, but right now, I am very skeptical.

COCO Trailer Reveals Pixar’s Fall Release!

Premiered this morning on Good Morning America (as corporate synergy demands), Pixar has finally revealed the first look at their Fall 2017 release, Coco.

Their second film of 2017, following Cars 3, Pixar is - very similar to Fox’s The Book of Life giving us an animated adventure involving the Day of the Dead.

What makes this interesting is in how the two ideas connect - Coco seems to primarily be about a boy with a goal of becoming an accomplished guitarist, like his (presumably deceased) hero. Yet, he finds himself in the realm of the dead by the end of the teaser. All I know is this - the animation looks lush and beautiful, and I have a soft spot for the Day of the Dead look. So I’m in.

www.youtube.com/watch

Here’s the official synopsis for the film, via the YouTube trailer:

A teaser poster for the movie has been released as well, below.

Directed by Toy Story 3’s Lee Unkrich, Coco hits theaters on November 22, 2017.

Nintendo Releases ZELDA: BREATH OF THE WILD Documentary

On March 3rd, Nintendo released the latest game within the Legend of Zelda franchise, Breath of the Wild on both the Wii-U and Nintendo Switch.

A strong reimagining for the franchise, Breath of the Wild takes the classic Zelda gameplay and turns it on its head, tossing Link into a massive open-world environment, encouraging improvisation and exploration, and I’ve been avidly playing it since I picked up both it and a Switch on release day.

Today, Nintendo has released a three-part behind the scenes documentary about the game, which I’ve embedded for you below. I probably won’t watch this until I complete the game (so we’ve got some time), but I figured you, dear reader, may enjoy it.

www.youtube.com/watch

 

www.youtube.com/watch

www.youtube.com/watch

Enjoy! And pick up the game, why don’t you?

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is available now.

Edgar Wright’s BABY DRIVER Finally Gets A Trailer

The cinematic works of Edgar Wright so far have been a glorious mashup of beloved genres. The horror/romcom hybrid of Shaun of the Dead, the frantic cop comedy Hot Fuzz, the video game/indie rock love letter Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and the robot apocalypse that was The World’s End.

Each movie showed us that Wright had the chops to deliver a true Hollywood blockbuster. That movie was to be Ant-Man, but the world had other plans…and those plans were called Baby Driver.

Baby Driver premiered earlier tonight at SXSW 2017 (appropriate, given that it was originally supposed to hit theaters this month), and I’m anxiously awaiting the first reviews, but in the meantime, we have the first trailer, which premiered just a few minutes ago.

youtu.be/byb2eJ_lL…

Baby Driver, in all honesty, appears to ape the plot of Drive. You’ve got a driver for hire, you’ve got a love interest, you’ve got some moody gangsters. But with Edgar Wright, the originality doesn’t come from the story being told, it’s how the story is told, and Baby Driver is no different, a unique action movie where the music literally drives the action. (I bet this will be a very popular soundtrack on your streaming service of choice.)

Ansel Elgort plays the titular Baby, fresh off of breaking teen’s hearts in The Fault in All Stars. He’s joined by Lily James (Cinderella) as the waitress of his dreams, and the team of Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Jon Bernthal, and an against-type Jon Hamm as the gangsters Baby is involved with.

The action seems relentless yet beautifully framed (thanks, Bill Pope), and all and all, you have a movie I cannot wait for.

The first teaser poster for the film has arrived as well. Check it out below.

[caption id=“attachment_21683” align=“aligncenter” width=“600”] Click to Enlarge![/caption]

Baby Driver rushes into theaters on August 11, 2017.

UPDATE: We’ve got an International Trailer, too!

www.youtube.com/watch

Train to Busan (2016): A Review

A workaholic father and his neglected daughter. An expecting husband and wife. Two elderly sisters. A pompous CEO. A crazy homeless man. A high school baseball team.

It’s quite the mix of characters. Shake them up, throw them into a train, and add a whole slew of fast-moving zombies and you’ve got South Korea’s massive hit Train to Busan.

Finally hitting US shores after breaking attendance records in its native country, Train to Busan is a strong live-action debut for director Yeon Sang-ho, best known for creating dramatic animated films in his home country.

Taking notes from World War Z and Snowpiercer, Train to Busan is a rather straightforward if melodramatic flick. We load our characters on a train, toss in some zombies (of the viral version, thank you very much), and allow the different stereotypes to play out in such a way to allow for some social commentary.

The bummer is that the characters are just that - stereotypes. They’re well played, but no one is playing anything you haven’t seen before. I wished that the movie allowed for a greater descent into violent insanity, or unabashed goofiness. Instead, it plays the whole thing straight and narrow.

What does standout, however, is the keen eye Yeon Sang-ho has for clean, smooth action direction, taking the typically frantic world of zombie films and keeping the focus clear and the camera steady. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention how incredibly lovely the cinematography is, especially for a zombie film, where the focus usually remains on how grimy to make everything.

Train to Busan is a fun journey to take, especially if you’re craving for some theatrical zombie goodness, but by no means is it an essential piece of Asian cinema. Worth a rental, or a fun group watch with your pals.

Train to Busan is available on VOD now, via Amazon and iTunes.

See How WONDER WOMAN Came To Be In This New Trailer!

One of the biggest films of Summer 2017 is the next installment of the DC Comics Extended Universe, the Gal Gadot-starring Wonder Woman.

The first-time solo outing for Diana, after this version’s debut in last year’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, is set in the era of World War I, and shows us how Wonder Woman came to join the world of man.

The training sequences with her fellow Amazonians look really great, and the action looks quite well-done, but I still feel like the movie is missing something. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe I’m being unfairly skeptical.

www.youtube.com/watch

My fingers are tightly crossed that the Patty Jenkins directed film is the first home-run for WB/DC, but only time will tell.

Wonder Woman hits theaters on June 2, 2017.

John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017): A Review

Flying under the radar with little notice in 2014, its remarkable the effect that John Wick had on the action movie world upon its release.

The story of an ex-hitman (Keanu Reeves) brought back into the world of crime after the death of his wife, the murdering of his dog, and the robbery of his car, John Wick was ostensibly a favor from Reeves to members of the stunt team of The Matrix, but lead to something much bigger.

Word of mouth grew that the film was something to take in, mixing beautifully shot, hard-nosed action with hints of a deeper mythos surrounding the crime world featured within the film.

A minor but impressive $43 Million take at the box office lead to solid home video sales, a run on HBO (where I first saw it bleary-eyed after a late night) and this conversation playing out countless times between action fans around the world:

FAN 2: No, no I haven’t. Didn’t that star Keanu?

FAN 1: HOLY SHIT YOU NEED TO SEE IT RIGHT NOW. Like so, John Wick’s directors, ex-stuntmen David Leitch and Chad Stahelski were put on the map, and Keanu Reeves was back as a lead actor.

And now, three years later, Stahelski and Reeves are back (Leitch was busy working on his next movie, Atomic Blonde) with the appropriately titled John Wick: Chapter 2.

Picking up right where the first film left off, we follow John as he is looking to close up the hitman chapter in his life, trying to get back his beloved Mustang. The movie wastes no time delivering a strong action set piece, with Leitch giving us an all-time great chase sequence, and finding a way to mix up fights in and out of the car, setting an incredible pace at the start.

The movie continues into a detour into plot town, with John Wick being visited by Italian crime lord Santino D’Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio), and D’Antonio revealing to the audience that Wick owes him a life-debt, as D’Antonio was instrumental to the mission that finally allowed Wick to retire from his life of crime (however short-lived it was.)

Once again giving us a glimpse into the rules and regulations of the Hitman society that makes John’s world go-round, John Wick: Chapter 2 quickly turns into a world-spanning adventure, sending our favorite hitman from New York to Rome and back.

The script from Derek Kolstad (who also wrote the first film) so clearly enjoys filling out the details of the hitman world - a scene involving a Sommelier played by Peter Serafinowicz is a particular standout - that it’s a shame that it sputters when it comes to moments explaining characters and plot. While it’s true that the first film kept details sparse, John Wick: Chapter 2 aims higher, but falters the closer it gets to the sun.

Thankfully, the action remains fantastic, with some incredibly inventive set pieces, including a montage of Wick fighting assassin’s around New York, a clever stealthy subway fight, and a brilliant third act confrontation in a hall of mirrors.

Reeves provides a solid performance, and is supported by actors who are clearly enjoying their time in the Wick-verse, including rapper Common as a fellow hitman, and gal-of-the-moment Ruby Rose as a mute bodyguard. The real joy, however, is the first post-Matrix reunion of Reeves and Laurence Fishburne, with Fishburne hamming it up hard as an underground crime lord.

Look - John Wick: Chapter 2 isn’t a perfect movie, but where it falls flat on plotting, it makes up for it with brilliant, gleeful violence. In fact, it brings another recent action sequel to mind: The Raid 2 a movie that went bigger on all fronts compared to the first, and as a result, ended up making a movie as equally good as the original. The same can be said here. If you loved John Wick, you’ll love John Wick: Chapter 2. And if you love John Wick: Chapter 2, good news…looks like Chapter 3 is on its way.

John Wick: Chapter 2 is in theaters now.

Get Out (2017): A Review

All of the greatest Horror films have delivered on two levels, that on the side of enjoyment, and that on the side of allegory.

Look at the slasher films of the 1980’s - they give us the fun of watching a bunch of kids get slashed up, while touching upon the AIDS fears of the era. (That’s why the virgins always lived!) The alien invasion films of the 50’s and 60’s were no different, satirizing our fears that Russian spies lived among us, by placing literal aliens among us.

How appropriate it is then, that one of the era’s best satirists, Jordan Peele (of Key & Peele fame) would turn his eye from humor to horror, and focus it upon today’s racial issues with his incredible directorial debut, Get Out.

Equal parts Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner and The Stepford Wives, Get Out focuses on a young couple, Chris and Rose.

Chris and Rose have been dating a few months, and they’re going to visit Rose’s parents in upstate New York. Chris is nervous, as he is black, and Rose is white, and he’s worried how her parents will take to their relationship.

The trip is an interesting one - while Rose’s parents are welcoming…perhaps too welcoming (Rose’s father wants to emphasize how he’d vote Obama in for a third term, if he could), Rose’s family has two housekeepers, both black, who act odd, to say the least. The tension is ramped up during a celebration for Rose’s grandfather, as another black man appears, and he too seems to be from another world.

Get Out deftly focuses on the discomfort of discussions of race while managing to be an exciting thriller, with well timed moments of humor and levity. Peele has a real knack for making the story universal and inviting (he also penned the script), and he’s helped out by a solid cast of fantastic character actors.

Girls’s Alison Williams stars as Rose, and she pretty much perfects the “first serious girlfriend" archetype with her work here. She’s matched wonderfully by The West Wing’s Bradley Whitford and indie-darling Catherine Keener as Rose’s parents. But the real find of the film is Daniel Kaluuya.

Kaluuya had never really anchored a film before, best known for a supporting role in Sicario and a number of BBC series (including Black Mirror), but he knocks his role out of the park here, bringing the right level of detachment, worry, fear and pathos to his lead turn. I’m very excited to see what Kaluuya does next.

To elaborate more on Get Out would be to spoil its many wonderful twists and turns, but it’s clear that Jordan Peele has created a story that would fit perfectly within the world’s of The Twilight Zone, or appropriately, Black Mirror - he uses the genre form for all it’s worth, delivering an exciting, thrilling Horror film which you’ll be discussing with friends for some time after the credits roll. I cannot wait to see what movie Jordan Peele has in him next.

Get Out is in theaters now.

Kong: Skull Island (2017): A Review

When you think about it, when was the last time the major studios gave us an honest-to-God creature feature?

Not a grand epic reimagining of classic movie monsters (although 2014’s Godzilla WAS pretty great), not a dramatic appreciation of classic monsters (such as 2005’s Peter Jackson-directed King Kong), I’m talking a full-blown, cheesy, ridiculous B-movie romp.

Thankfully, the drought is over, and we have Kong: Skull Island to thank.

Set in the final days of the Vietnam conflict, the Jordan Vogt-Roberts directed film updates the Kong legend, moving it forward from the standard 1930’s set story of an ape and a beauty, instead making it an action-packed journey into an island of monsters.

The setup is simple - the mysterious Monarch group (who you may remember from the aforementioned Godzilla reboot) is desperately trying to retain its government funding. Lead by the passionate Bill Randa (John Goodman), Monarch is attempting to prove the Hollow Earth theory of geologist Houston Brooks (Corey Hawkins), and apparently there is no better place than a cursed island in the South Pacific, known for being a site of death and tragedy - the aforementioned Skull Island.

With government approval, a crew is quickly gathered: a Vietnam-based US helicopter force, lead by an intense Colonel (Samuel L. Jackson), an ex-British Special Forces tracker (Tom Hiddleston), and, for some reason, an anti-war photo journalist (Brie Larson).

You may’ve noticed that I haven’t really mentioned character names, and that’s with reason - while the film has them, the human characters are secondary to the creatures and wonders of Skull Island.

Filled with creepy crawlies and dominated by the God-like ape Kong, this movie is all about the awe and destruction created by these creatures. If you’re in for this film for the actors, you’re seeing the wrong picture. But if you plop down the money to see incredible computer animated creatures (including the largest version of King Kong yet), you will find an embarrassment of riches.

The acting isn’t bad per se - it’s just mostly wasted. I can’t really figure out why actors with the heat of Hiddleston and Larson were brought into the film beyond name value, as they don’t really get too much to do - but for the skilled character actors in the film (Jackson, Goodman), Kong: Skull Island is an incredible piece of cheese for them to sink their teeth into.

With no character or performance is this more apparent than John C. Reilly’s Hank Marlow, an unhinged World War II pilot who crashed on Skull Island and made it his home for decades. Reilly goes all in with his performance, laughing about his inevitable death and swinging a katana with gusto. He truly personifies everything that makes Kong: Skull Island enjoyable: his acting is big, dumb, ridiculous, and absolutely undeniably entertaining.

It’s interesting too to see the visual touchstones in play here - Kong: Skull Island carries homages to everything from Apocalypse Now to Mad Max: Fury Road to first-person-shooter video games, and it all works, a strong modernization of the creature feature, even if it’s set 40 years ago.

Kong: Skull Island isn’t a prestige picture, but as a large-scale B-Movie, it delivers. This is the type of movie to be seen at a drive-in, to be enjoyed on a weekend afternoon, to be laughed at, and to blown away by the technical mastery. It is simply big, dumb fun, and if you give yourself to it, you won’t be able to wipe the smile from your face.

Additional notes: My screening of Kong: Skull Island was in IMAX 3D, and while I did not see the value in the 3D projection, I do recommend IMAX (or Dolby Cinema) for the powerful sound. I also recommend sticking through the credits, especially if you’re a big fan of other giant monsters.

Kong: Skull Island is in theaters now.

Logan (2017): A Review

For fans of the superhero genre, it’s easy to forget how different the world was when Bryan Singer gave us the first X-Men film in 2000.

The best superhero film in recent memory was Blade. The Batman franchise was irreparably destroyed by Joel Schumacher. Spider-Man as a theatrical vehicle was a joke with James Cameron as the punchline. Simply put, superhero movies were not a thing.

And then, a scrappy group of actors and a director using up his goodwill from a critically acclaimed thriller delivered what was - at the time - the best translation from four color panels to the silver screen, completely beyond our hopes and imagination. At it’s core, a perfect performance unexpected, the live action interpretation of a rage-filled, short, grumpy Canadian, as given to us by a tall, Australian song-and-dance man.

How strange it is then, ten X-Men movies later (including a solo trilogy for the aforementioned Australian as Wolverine), that the most effecting, and thematically brutal superhero movie yet comes in that actor’s send off - the final performance of Hugh Jackman in Logan.

Set in the year 2029, Logan shows us that there are no happy endings. Age has caught up to the titular hero, his life - and the adamantium inside him - is eating at him from the inside out. His fellow X-Men are dead, lost to the ages. All that’s left is him, his erstwhile father figure Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), and an albino mutant known as Caliban. They live just beyond the Mexican border, keeping their profile low as Logan - under his real name of James Howlett - keeps a job as a chauffeur in Texas. He works to get money to buy the prescription drugs that Xavier needs to keep his psychic abilities in check. No new mutants have been born in twenty-five years. The situation is, to say the least, grim.

But then as always - trouble finds Logan. That trouble is in the form of a young girl named Laura (the debuting Dafne Keen), who seems to have the same rage issues…and claws…of our hero. And of course, Laura has people looking for her, a group of cybernetically enhanced bounty hunters called The Reavers, lead by a charismatic man named Donald Pierce (Narco’s Boyd Holbrook). It’s all the elements needed for one last ride for our hero, and the journey begins.

Unabashedly R-Rated, Logan embraces the adult nature of its content from the first line of dialogue to the last bloody battle, giving the fans of the X-Men franchise the mature farewell that fans have wanted for Hugh Jackman’s version of Wolverine. If you loved the berserker rage scenes from X2: X-Men United, get ready to see the full force of an angry Logan…and to see the rage unleashed of his new friend Laura.

But what makes Logan stand out in the glut of superhero movies isn’t just the language and gore, it’s the film’s beating heart. This is a story of family - fathers, sons, daughters, and the sins of the past coming to light. If it weren’t for the claws and cloning nonsense, this could be an incredible indie film - and it’s shot and edited like one too, with director James Mangold (who also wrote the script), shooting the movie like a prestige drama - even if its one with mutant-on-mutant violence. The driving score by Marco Beltrami gives the movie a proper pace, but the true force of the film comes from the acting: the trinity of Jackman, Stewart, and the wonderful Dafne Keen is a joy to watch as a family unit, something that the X-Men franchise has always done a great job in, but is underlined here.

As with any superhero film, there are the flaws of the format - one plot twist is slightly abrupt and unnecessary, the resulting antagonist feels like one thread too many, but when it’s placed into a film this strong, the flaws are easy to ignore.

A love letter to a character, a thank you to the fans, a farewell to a superhero icon - Logan is many things, but above all else, it’s an excellently executed, mature take on the superhero mythos. Hugh Jackman brought us into the 21st century of superheroes, and now, he can hang up his hat proud. Well done.

Logan is in theaters now.

New GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 Trailer Premieres!

Premiered last night on Jimmy Kimmel Live! (gotta love that Disney/Marvel/ABC synergy), we have what is, presumably, the final trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.

Every glimpse of the movie we’ve taken in so far has been promising, but with the plot starting to finally be laid out in this trailer (although, there are plenty of secrets held), it’s looking like the sequel to what is arguably the best Marvel Studios film yet is deliving more of what we loved about this group of a-holes, while raising the stakes.

youtu.be/duGqrYw4u…

Star Lord, Gamora, Rocket, Drax and Groot (in toddler form!) are experiencing the same growing pains all familes do…with some new additions in tow, and what’s that? IS THAT STAR LORD’S DAD AT THE END?! (Kurt Russell, hell yes!)

I have full trust in James Gunn to deliver another great star-faring adventure, complete with a brilliant soundtrack - which this trailer confirms, will include Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain".

A new poster for the movie was released as well, and we’ve got it for you below.

So, listen up, a-holes! Be in theaters on May 5, 2017 for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.

You guys, ALIEN: COVENANT looks REALLY good!

Could we be on the precipice of the first truly-great Alien sequel in over 30 years?

That’s the question I’m asking myself after watching the latest trailer for Alien: Covenant, embedded below.

youtu.be/svnAD0TAp…

Following in the footsteps of Prometheus (a movie I enjoyed more than most), Alien: Covenant follows a decidely ill-fated attempt to populate a far off planet with a group of couples - including such beloved actors as Katherine Waterston (going full Ripley), Billy Crudup, and Danny McBride - when, as all these films go, things go terribly wrong once some Xenomorph eggs are found.

There seems to be a definitive visceral streak to the movie, and the unique makeup of the crew harkening back to the original Alien, while Ridley Scott brings back the lush visuals that made Prometheus such a joy to take in…even if the script had its flaws.

Will this be able to do what Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection couldn’t? We’ll find out on May 19, 2017, when Alien: Covenant hits theaters.

The LEGO Batman Movie (2017): A Review

Starting with a hilarious voice-over indicating that all of the “most important movies" start with a black screen, it’s abundantly clear that The LEGO Batman Movie isn’t going to be your standard superhero romp.

And why should we expect it? As the second movie from the LEGO franchise, after 2014’s unbelievably great The LEGO Movie, a solid blueprint is followed: when the audience expects you to turn left, zag right, and whenever and wherever possible - make fun of the source material.

The biggest benefit that The LEGO Batman Movie has is its star: the Dark Knight himself, Batman.

Will Arnett’s version of the character, introduced in The LEGO Movie, is a glorious distillation of decades of Batman mythos, sent through a filter of over-the-top darkness and goofy ego. What’s astounding about the film, however, is that it’s able to take a bit player from the prior film - who I was concerned would only work in small servings - and turn him into a fully fleshed-out version of the character.

The LEGO Batman Movie takes advantage of nearly 80 years of pop-culture Batman knowledge, referencing everything from the 1960’s television series to last year’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and finds a common element: Batman is only truly great due to those who surround him.

The plot of the film is pretty simple (as one would expect for a family film): Batman needs to learn how to accept the stitched-together extended family that makes him great, whether it’s his father-figure Alfred (Ralph Fiennes), his adopted ward Robin (Michael Cera), or his incredible rogues-gallery of villains, lead by The Joker (Zach Galifianakis)

It’s an interesting angle for the character, one debated strongly by fans for years: is Batman actually interesting? Or is he only interesting due to the characters that surround him. But the film doesn’t get bogged down in the emotions - for the kids, it’s a fun, colorful Bat-romp with dozens of characters, but for the adults, it’s an interesting (and hilarious) look into what has made Batman such a lasting icon for so long.

The film, directed by Chris McKenna (who co-directed The LEGO Movie) moves at a brisk pace, running just 104 minutes, and the animation work by Warner Animation Group is genuinely beautiful, feeling like an astounding stop-motion LEGO film, and presenting probably the most colorful version of Gotham City yet.

If I had any gripes about the film, it would be that the movie never reaches the heights of The LEGO Movie, which somehow found a way to incorporate questions of the creator myth and overall philosophy into a movie about building blocks. But when a movie is this fun, this enjoyable, and this delightful, it’s hard to take it down. The LEGO franchise is delivering in ways I never expected, and I cannot wait to see where it goes next.

Whether you’re age 8 or 80, if you love Batman, this is a must-see. Check it out this weekend.

The LEGO Batman Movie is in theaters now.

THE CIRCLE Looks To Be A Gripping Tale of Facebook Gone Wrong

With an intriguing teaser trailer late last year, I was very much hooked by the potential of The Circle.

An extended trailer hit the web today for the Tom Hanks/Emma Watson starring thriller, and I have to say, I remain all in.

www.youtube.com/watch

The idea of social media turning against us isn’t a new one by any means (thanks, Black Mirror), but the way that The Circle is handling it seems to be a deft, plausible version of how things can go terribly awry when you give all of yourself to a social network.

I have to admit, I have not read the original Dave Eggers novel, but the film, directed by James Ponsoldt (The End of the Tour) looks like a thriller worth catching this Spring.

The Circle arrives in theaters on April 28, 2017.

How Cool Are These KONG: SKULL ISLAND Posters?

A movie that I am greatly anticipating this Spring is Kong: Skull Island, the forthcoming relaunch of the classic King Kong franchise, meant to link up to the 2014 Godzilla reboot.

The first trailer was absolutely nutty in all the right ways, and two new posters for the film have come out that hit all the right notes for this movie nerd.

First, we have the IMAX poster, which is super evocative of Apocalypse Now, appropriate given the film’s steamy, 1970’s island vibe.

But then, we have the COOLEST POSTER I’VE SEEN IN AGES, the Japanese poster, which makes Kong: Skull Island look like the biggest creature feature in decades. OH MY GOD I WANT THIS FOR MY WALL SO BAD.

Now, the big concern: Will the final film live up to these images?  A man can hope.

We’ll find out very soon, as Kong: Skull Island hits theaters on March 10, 2017.

Wait A Minute, THE LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE looks GOOD?

The LEGO franchise continues to buck expectations.

When The LEGO Movie was released in 2014, it was another example of directors Phil Lord & Chris Miller doing what they do best - taking a bad idea and making it great.

This week The LEGO Batman Movie hits theaters (review soon), and it seems to be continuing the tradition. But I’ll be honest - when Warner Bros said that they were working toward making LEGO an evergreen franchise, and branching out into a film about one of the building toy’s most beloved subsets, I figured that this is where Hollywood greed would get the best of a miracle moment in animation.

I’d like to eat those words, at least in theory, as the first trailer for The LEGO Ninjago Movie has hit the Internet, and I’ll be damned, it looks fun, funny, and like an absolute joy.

www.youtube.com/watch

The movie has an absolute murderer’s row of talent assigned, voice acting wise, including Jackie Chan, Justin Theroux, Dave Franco, Olivia Munn, Fred Armisen, Abbi Jacobson, Kumail Nanjiani, Michael PeÅ„a and Zach Woods, but what really shines here is the surreal and awkward humor, which worked wonders in The LEGO Movie, and continues here.

Here’s the official synopsis:

Is it weird that in the year of our lord 2017, LEGO may end up being our strongest comedic franchise?  The poster for the film is below, and I’m very much looking forward to it.

The LEGO Ninjago Movie arrives in theaters on September 22, 2017.

SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING Marvel Legends Line Revealed!

With Spider-Man finally joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe this July in Spider-Man: Homecoming, it’s only appropriate that the web-swinger is joined by the most important part of a comic book film - the merchandise!

Hasbro, via ComingSoon.net, has officially revealed figures from the Marvel Legends line for the film, and they’re probably some of the best movie based figures they’ve unveiled yet!

The Marvel Legends figures are where Hasbro goes all out, with a super-detailed, super-articulated series of figures in the 6" scale, and clearly, they’re keeping the tradition alive with this set.

We’ve got the images for you below, but the line includes:

[gallery ids=“21599,21604,21603,21598,21597,21601,21602”]

I mean, it does feel like we’ve seen this armor before, right?

Spider-Man: Homecoming hits theaters on July 7, 2017, so we will presumably see these figures hit shelves this Summer.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016): A Review

Way back in May 1977, A New Hope, or it as it was then known, Star Wars hit the screens. Before the film, a scroll ran up the screen. It read…

These words set the stage of one of the greatest sci-fi sagas of all time, and now, nearly forty years later, we answer the question of what it was like to be a part of that war.

This is Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Directed by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla), Rogue One has quite the hefty weight upon its shoulders. The movie needs to tell the story of the stealing of the Death Star plans, it has to work as a standalone story on its own, and - oh yeah! - be a good Star Wars prequel at the same time, something that in some fan’s eyes has never been done.

I’m pleased to report, that although the movie is not the four-quadrant excitement fest that The Force Awakens was just one year ago, Rogue One manages to be an incredible installment in the Star Wars universe, with a remarkable third act which has to be seen to be believed.

The story is a simple one. Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen), a skilled engineer, was forced against his will to create a remarkable super weapon for the Empire, by the will of Director Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn). Working on a tip from a defecting Imperial pilot, the still young Rebel Alliance, on the verge of either full fledged war, or total disarray, decides to try to convince Galen’s daughter - the disobedient Jyn (Felicity Jones) - to help them contact Galen Erso and find out everything they can about this super weapon before it is used to destroy the Rebels once and for all.

Along with Jyn in this search for intel, there is a rag-tag group of freedom fighters - the Dirty Dozen of Star Wars, including:

  • Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), a Rebel Alliance officer who is willing to take the risks others are not.
  • Defender of the Force, the blind Chirrut Imwe (Donnie Yen)
  • Heavy weapons specialist Baz Malbus (Jiang Wen)
  • The aforementioned Imperial defector, Bodhi Rook (Riz Ahmed)
  • K—2SO, a reprogramed Imperial droid, who seems to be stuck on a permanently sarcastic setting (Alan Tudyk).

If the Star Wars Saga to date was the “legend", Rogue One serves as “true story". This isn’t about the Skywalkers, the Jedi, or the grand heroic moments. This is a movie of hard-nosed actions, hard-fought victories, and the sacrifice of rebellion and hope. If you ever wondered what it was like for the front-line of the Rebel Alliance while Luke and Company were tied up in their family drama, this is the movie for you.

Beautifully shot by Zero Dark Thirty cinematographer Greig Fraser, this is the most dynamic and visually stunning entry of the entire Star Wars series. You can lose yourself in countless frames of the film. This is bolstered with the first non-John Williams score of the series, performed by Michael Giacchino (Star Trek Beyond).

If I had any issues with the film, it is that the characters, while all intriguing in their own right, we don’t really get to know them beyond a vague sketch, as the film moves quite quickly from planet to planet, and scene to scene. That said, when the grand battle kicks in at the end, with battles occurring on the ground, in the sky, and in the galaxy above, you’ll be too blown away to remember these flaws. Is it too bold to say that this movie is the first to deliver the type of war action that George Lucas always dreamed of? If so, I’ll gladly fall on that sword. Rogue One isn’t afraid to kick ass when needed, and makes every young fan’s dream come alive on screen.

One last note: unlike The Force Awakens, Rogue One is rather grim - appropriate given its subject matter. In turn, I would not recommend bringing younger children to this installment.

Rogue One has arrived, and with it, delivered on the promise of the new Disney-owned Lucasfilm. Star Wars is more than a saga, it’s a universe, and if this movie is any indication, anything is possible in a galaxy far, far away. Bring on the yearly movies.

Rogue One is in theaters now, and is available for pre-order on iTunes.

WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES Trailer Arrives!

The relaunched Planet of the Apes saga has been one of the bigger surprises of recent years, with both Dawn and Rise being wonderful pieces of sci-fi genre entertainment.

This Summer, the trilogy comes to a close with what looks to be the most epic installment yet - the appropriately titled War for the Planet of the Apes.

www.youtube.com/watch

Woody Harrleson is our key human in the mix this time, and he appears to be, simply put, tired of these damn, dirty apes. Words cannot describe how much Andy Serkis has brought to this franchise with his motion capture work as Caesar, and he looks to be doing some of his best work here.

I cannot wait for this one.

War for the Planet of the Apes hits theaters on July 14th, 2017.

The SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING Trailer Swings Into Action!

With this Summer’s Captain America: Civil War, in the midst of the Avengers based conflict, fans around the globe were introduced to a new generation of wall-crawler - the newest Spider-Man / Peter Parker, Tom Holland.

As a life long devoted fan of Spidey, I absolutely loved the performance of Holland, mixing the best of both prior Spider-Men (Tobey McGwire and Andrew Garfield), all while being an honest to God teen.

Next Summer brings his first solo adventure, a combined Sony Pictures / Marvel Studios joint: Spider-Man: Homecoming, and courtesy of Jimmy Kimmel Live and the Internet, we have the first trailer for you, in both domestic and international versions.

www.youtube.com/watch

www.youtube.com/watch

The two trailers aren’t terribly different (just some additional beats with Michael Keaton’s The Vulture), but this looks absolutely fantastic, weaving elements of what has made the Ultimate Spider-Man comic series so great with a touch of The Breakfast Club, and of course, the amazing Marvel Cinematic Universe. I really do love the bank robber beat at the beginning.

If I had a complaint, it’s a very minor one, that I worry that the appearance of Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark / Iron Man may overshadow the film too much. But when it’s a superhero tale, who doesn’t expect a crossover now?

Spider-Man: Homecoming arrives in theaters on July 7, 2017.

New GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 Teaser Gives Us MORE BABY GROOT!

I don’t know that there is a movie that I am looking forward to more in 2017 - for pure joy, not necessarily cinematic quality - than Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.

Once again under the vision of writer/director James Gunn, with a new teaser trailer released yesterday, it’s clear that we’re going to have another great romp with the best a-holes in the galaxy, and that Baby Groot will probably steal everyone’s hearts.

What’s really great? Two trailers in, and none of it has seemed predictable, but all of it is a logical growth from the first.

www.youtube.com/watch

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 hits theaters on May 5, 2017.

Moana (2016): A Review

Since 2010’s Tangled, Walt Disney Animation Studios has worked hard to rebuild the reputation it once had. With Pixar’s John Lassiter at the helm, the studio has successfully migrated to computer animation, and following in the footsteps of an incredible run including Frozen, Wreck-It Ralph and this year’s Zootopia, may have delivered one of its finest family musicals yet - the 56th Walt Disney Animation film, the beautiful and transcendent Moana.

Moana is the story of a girl. Not a princess, as much as some may want to call her. Moana (voiced by newcomer Auli’i Cravalho) is a teenager who is in line to become the chief of a Polynesian tribe, after her proud father. They have a beautiful life on a beautiful island, and all seems well, until Moana’s grandmother reveals to her an ancient curse which explains the poor harvest the island has seen in recent years. See, a millennia ago, a demigod named Maui (Dwayne “The Rock" Johnson, as charismatic as ever) stole “The Heart of Te Fiti" from an island goddess, which cursed the islands created by that same goddess.

You can see where this is going - Moana needs to find Maui, and return the Heart of Te Fiti, in an adventure which will redefine Moana and her entire life.

AND WHAT A THRILLING ADVENTURE IT IS!

Featuring some of the most beautiful animation ever put to film, this is a beautiful, eye grabbing, jaw dropping romp which sends us all across the ocean, into a world filled with lava monsters, giant crabs obsessed with treasure, stupid chickens, and yes - a Mad Max: Fury Road inspired chase sequence involving ill-tempered coconut wearing pirates called Kakamora.

Every second of Moana’s 113 minute run-time is filled with something to marvel at, whether the artistry at hand (look at the water animation! AND THE HAIR!), the warmth and heart of the story, the strong humor, or the incredible music, written by Mark Mancina, Opetaia Foa’i, and Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda.

There are a number of musical standouts within the film, including Maui’s big number “You’re Welcome" (which I haven’t stopped humming since I left the theater) and the Bowie-esq “Shiny", performed by Flight of the Conchords’ Jemaine Clement (the aforementioned giant crab). But the strongest, and boldest work, is “We Know The Way", a beautiful song written in both English and the Tokelauan language, which speaks to the level of cultural depth in this film. The movie doesn’t shy away from embracing the Polynesian culture, and is all the stronger for it. And it’s this embracing of the unusual, which makes film’s strongest change-of-Disney-pace even better: Moana, the non Disney Princess Disney Princess.

Moana is a completely self-actualized, strong, independent, ethnically diverse, female character. There is no man to save her, there is no romance to work in, she just gets in, and gets the job done. And the movie doesn’t even make a big deal of it…but for the girls and women of many ages who will see it? This is a very, very big deal, and I applaud Disney for it.

Moana is filled with laughs, songs you’ll love, and characters you’ll enjoy spending time with. The visuals are stunning, the adventure big, and the movie is arguably the best of the current Disney renaissance. If that isn’t enough reason to rush out to theaters, I’m not sure what is. Highest possible recommendation.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: Moana is accompanied in theater’s with a brilliant short, Inner Workings, which is all about the relationship between the heart and the mind. Plus, there’s a post-credits scene. What I’m saying is: arrive early, stay late.

Moana is in theaters now.

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them (2016): A Review

Taking the wizarding world introduced to us over the eight film Harry Potter franchise and planting it right into the roaring 1920’s, there’s a lot to like about Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them. Yet, scattered among the visual delights of the film, you’ll find an odd plot, and some incredibly grim detours which left me wondering: who is this movie for?

Taking the title, and, ostensibly, it’s lead, from a textbook mentioned in glowing terms in the Harry Potter franchise, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them is the story of Newt Scamander (Oscar award winner Eddie Redmayne, as awkward and properly British as ever). Scamander travels to New York City in 1926, carrying with him a mysterious case. The case is magic, of course, and is filled with countless creatures that Scamander has captured to study and train the wizard world to no longer fear.

Scamander isn’t even in New York for a few minutes when a number of his fantastic beasts start to escape from his case, turning the movie into just as you’d think - an extended search for his lost pets.

What’s interesting - and somewhat confusing - is how this plot is really just used to give us glimpses into a bigger, more interesting story, one of the state of the American wizard culture. In 1920’s America, wizards have been driven underground, ever scared of a war with the non-magical members of society, or “no-maj" as they’re called here. It seems we yanks don’t get a word as cool as muggles. Ah well.

The bigger story involves the Magical Congress of the United States of America, sort of a police force for wizards, and a dark wizard named Grindelwald, who is apparently plotting in secret to attack the human world and kickstart the great war the Magical Congress is trying hard to prevent. There’s even a harsh anti-witch and wizard group (seen as crazy by humans, like there’s ANYTHING magical) called the New Salem Society, which is one of the most intriguing ideas within the film (scripted by JK Rowling, her first screenplay after seven Potter novels).

But even with strong ideas, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them never truly gels as a cohesive whole.

I’m not entirely sure what the direction was for this movie. Was it to be a fun, family-friendly romp with the wacky Newt looking for his lost creatures? Or was it to be something bigger and darker involving the thin-growing-thinner separation between wizards and humans, including the incredibly dark truths behind the New Salem Society?

I’m not sure I could tell you, because here they are put together in a way that doesn’t quite feel natural. The Potter films grew into their darkness, mirroring the worries and fears of growing old and learning more about the world around you. Here, they’re smashed together with little want for explanation.

Even with that - there are strong moments of CG related beauty, of incredible, heartwarming creatures created by wonderful artists and indelible moments of (as cheesy as it sounds) magic, as could only be brought on screen by a director as well versed in Rowling’s world as David Yates has been.

Performances are generally solid, with the strongest coming from supporting actors Dan Fogler as Jacob Kowalski, a no-maj brought into this mess, and indie-rocker Alison Sudol making her acting debut as the bewitching (heh) Queenie Goldstein, a mindreader. Their scenes, both solo and together, are the strongest heart of the film - but everyone else seems somewhat lost and looking for a moment to shine.

Redmayne’s Scamander really seems like a bystander to a bigger plot, Katherine Waterston (Inherent Vice) is somewhat bland as Scamander’s sidekick Tina, a shame given how strong of an actor she normally is. Even Colin Farrell tries to bring his veteran chops to the film, but is lost to the story as auror Percival Graves, who in a third-act-twist is rendered almost nonsensical in his act or existence.

With Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, I find myself at an odd crossroads with the Wizarding World. There are enough moments worth seeing that if you are at all a Potter fan, you must see it, but after one viewing, I’m not sure if there is enough to explore in another installment…let alone four. I fear we may have another Hobbit on our hands, but I hope that this may just be a mea culpa.

Perhaps this one is best waited on for VOD.

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them is in theaters now.

November 2016 Movie Trailer Round-Up!

Hey folks!

Sorry about the quiet nature of this blog as of late - real life has kinda cast a pall over the fun nature of what Blast-O-Rama is designed to be, but after some time of working through things, I’m dedicated to making this site a release and a place of excitement and joy.

With that in mind, I’m catching up today with a number of movie trailers released over the past few weeks to share my thoughts (and maybe hear yours!)

www.youtube.com/watch

I’ve been incredibly excited for writer/director Damien Chazelle’s next film since the credits on Whiplash rolled, so to say I’m pumped for this is an understatement. But when you add the fact that it’s an honest to God song-and-dance movie, complete with an incredible cast and some of the most stunning visuals I’ve seen on screen in years, you have a movie that I am chomping at the bit to see.

La La Land hits select theaters on December 9, with a full roll out on December 16. (Opposite Rogue One. Rough.)

www.youtube.com/watch

I really loved the teaser for this film revealed during San Diego Comic Con, and arguably, this trailer for the fourth film in the DC Comics Extended Universe is more of the same. But yet, the focus on Chris Pine’s Steve Trevor gives me pause. For a movie that is supposed to really install Wonder Woman as an absolutely strong female hero, why are we giving so much time and credence to who is, essentially, her male sidekick? We’re paying to see Wonder Woman. We don’t need a dude to make us feel OK.

Wonder Woman is in theaters on June 2, 2017.

www.youtube.com/watch

Hands down, one of the biggest highlights of The LEGO Movie, beyond the joy of, somehow, a competent film being made about LEGO, was Will Arnett’s egocentric version of the Dark Knight. Audiences loved this version enough that it looks like we’re going to be getting the best Batman movie since The Dark Knight, because of it.

Yes, it’s a family film, but there is such a deep-seeded love of the character that has come through in these trailers (including the HOLY-SHIT-I-REMEMBER-THAT-GUY choice of villains), not to mention some nice jabs at the current state of the hero in pop-culture (SHOTS FIRED AT Batman v Superman!)

I just hope this Batman movie isn’t too inside baseball.

The LEGO Batman Movie arrives on February 10, 2017.

www.youtube.com/watch

Oh boy! I’m incredibly excited to see Luc Besson finally do a proper, high-concept sci-fi film, all these years after The Fifth Element. What we see of Valerian here is absolute eye candy, and I want to just immerse my retinas in it, but I am concerned with the one-two cringeworthy punch of Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne as our leads. (Delevingne in particular, post Suicide Squad.)

Maybe we’ll be lucky, and like the trailers, the movie will be more spectacle than film, and we can just lose ourselves in the insane CG creations Besson has brought to life.

Sidenote: any of you guys ever read the Valerian comics? Worth tracking down? And how can a city have a thousand planets?

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets zooms in on July 21st, 2017.

www.youtube.com/watch

I really, really enjoyed The Jungle Book earlier this year, so I’m not immune to the idea of a Disney live-action remake being good. That said, with all the money, cool effects, and hype behind it, the trailer for this live action version of Beauty and the Beast has left me quite cold.

There doesn’t seem to be any of the effort behind this remake - more of a 1-to—1 push to live action, leaving me cold and wondering why. Maybe there’s something more to be revealed in theaters?

Beauty and the Beast makes guests of us all on March 17, 2017.

www.youtube.com/watch

Just 12 years (yes, it’s been THAT long) after Peter Jackson gave us an unusually lengthy remake of the greatest creature feature of all time, Warner Bros is giving us a new look at the great ape with Kong: Skull Island.

Sure, this is ultimately a movie designed to cross over with the latest Godzilla movies, but holy SHIT, this looks INCREDIBLE! From surreal monsters and an amazing cast, to whatever the hell John C. Reilly and his fellow World War II fighter pilots are doing, this looks like an absolutely loopy and ridiculous monster mash for March. I AM IN.

Kong: Skull Island reveals itself on March 10, 2017.

www.youtube.com/watch

Unless you’re a six year old boy, chances are, you’re not a big fan of the Cars franchise. The punchline for any joke about Pixar, the series is arguably the most maligned thing they’ve done, but results in tons and tons of merchandising cash.

And now we have the teaser for the third film, which is perhaps the most shocking, grim, and surreal thing that Pixar has ever released.

Are they really going to make Cars 3 serious? We’ll find out this summer.

Cars 3 speeds into your cinema on June 16, 2017.

www.youtube.com/watch

The pet project of master filmmaker Martin Scorsese, Silence has been in development for over 20 years. Based on the true story of Portuguese missionaries entering Japan to find their fellow missionary after his disappearance, this trailer left me somewhat cold.

Yes, this feels like a prestige film. Yes, it will probably win all the Oscars. Yes, it will be praised among many. But something feels dry and workmanlike about it all. Is this poor marketing? Or did Scorsese overthink this one? We will see this Christmas.

Silence hits theaters on December 23, 2016.

That’s all for this November trailer round-up. Agree with me? Disagree with me? Have another trailer I need to see? Sound off in the comments.

BEHOLD! The Incredible Minifigure Set For THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE!

Folks, I’m quite excited for The LEGO Batman Movie.

It’s not just because The LEGO Movie was shockingly good, it’s not just because Will Arnett’s Batman is an incredible send-up of decades of Batman history, it’s because the filmmakers seem to be honest to God fans of even the most obscure bits and bobs of Bat-history.

No more is this apparent than in the newly revealed line of collectible mini figures from LEGO due in January of next year.

The lineup leaked to LEGO fansites yesterday, and was confirmed today via Twitter as follows.

twitter.com/LEGO_Grou…

Take a closer look at the header image by clicking here.

THAT is the good stuff. Between surreal Bat variants and Batman villains I never thought we’d see, I doubt you’ll get a bad pick in this blind-bagged line of figures.

Of course, REGULAR sets for The LEGO Batman Movie are coming next year too, but how great are these figures?

GHOST IN THE SHELL Trailer Gives A Glimpse Of Future Tokyo

Unleashed to the Internet today after a massive promotional event in Japan, we have our first glimpse at this March’s long-awaited of one of the most celebrated manga of all time, Ghost in the Shell.

Following after a number of released stills (not to mention surreal, brief spots airing during Mr. Robot), the first trailer for the Rupert Sanders-directed adaptation reveals that Ghost in the Shell, if nothing else, will be a visual stunner.

www.youtube.com/watch

It’s amazing how well the world created by Masamune Shirow has come to life, even including some of the more controversial elements of the series (such as the Major’s sexuality), but the elephant in the room remains - the questionable casting of the actors.

There’s no doubt that Scarlett Johansson is a massive superstar, and has the acting chops to bring the Major to life (just see Under the Skin for an example of what she could bring to the role), but seeing that a Japanese film based on a Japanese manga set in a futuristic Japan has only one notable Asian actor within the trailer (the legendary Takeshi Kitano as Chief Aramaki) is an absolute bummer.

Will this be enough to stop success of the movie? Probably not - but no matter how good it looks, or how good the final product is, the question will remain: what could’ve been?

Ghost in the Shell hits theaters on March 31, 2017.

Doctor Strange (2016): A Review

If a formula works - what’s wrong with that?

If a formula works - why not break it?

These are the two rules that define, and ultimately embolden the fourteenth installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Strange.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: a smug, self-centered successful rich white dude has a traumatic experience which causes much rage, anger, and ultimately a moment of clarity - to be something greater they must breakdown what came before and become a symbol of heroism and purity.

That’s 2005’s Batman Begins. That’s 2008’s Iron Man. And that too is 2016’s Doctor Strange.

Honestly, that’s what the hero’s journey is all about, but I can understand why on paper, people were dreading this film. In a structure, however, lies the ability to go farther, to bend things to your will - and that’s where director Scott Derrickson (Sinister) alongside writers Jon Spaihts and C. Robert Cargill start to have fun.

Benedict Cumberbatch of Sherlock fame is our Stephen Strange, giving serious nerd cred to what has always been one of the lesser loved Marvel properties. It’s long been said that it’s a comic that every writer has a pitch for, which really underlines the deep-dive nature of the character - bringing Doctor Strange to life is arguably as risky as Guardians of the Galaxy was just two Summer’s ago.

Stephen is a master surgeon, top of his game. Super cocky, super confident, super headstrong (it’s going to be a joy to see him mix it up with Tony Stark in future films), everything is taken away from him - including his love interest, nurse Christine Palmer (a terribly underused Rachel McAdams) - after a massive car accident.

Broken, beaten, without the use of his talented hands, and searching for a new start, Strange finds himself in Nepal, and seeking the tutelage under the Ancient One - who, it is claimed, has lead to impossible healing in patients around the globe.

You can see where this is going - the Ancient One has powers beyond our understanding, and Strange has to become a fast learner. Why? Random villain, of course! Kaecilius, played by a scenery-chewing Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal), a former student of the Ancient One, who intends to bring forth an even BIGGER baddie, the dark dimension ruler known as Dormammu.

This sounds pretty boilerplate - even down to the hapless female love interest, given little to do. But remember the fun I was talking about before?

With the foundation of your standard superhero film in place, Doctor Strange is home to some of the wildest special effects seen in a Marvel movie to date, and some of the craziest storytelling yet. If you’re the type still amazed that Marvel Studios produces movies where our favorite four-color heroes congregate and collide, just wait until you see high level conversations and in-depth sequences involving the Astral Plane and (finally!) the multiverse! Battles with cities turning into literal kaleidoscopes give way to magic involving time and space, and climax in one of the weirdest, bleakest, and boldest third act sequences in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, if not blockbuster filmmaking, full stop.

That’s what makes Doctor Strange such a thrill to watch. Now that the template exists, we as an audience can accept the subversion of it…but not all is well in the world of comic book filmmaking.

One of the biggest concerns leading into the release of this film was the subject of how it was handling minorities and stereotypes. I have some good news, some bad.

Yes - the movie now takes place in Nepal instead of Tibet (possibly to avoid conflict with Chinese film audiences), and yes, the Ancient One is no longer of Asian descent. But I will be honest with you - the performance Tilda Swinton gives is absolutely phenomenal, arguably standing out more than Cumberbatch, and if anyone transcends race, sex, and countless other factors it is the surreal and alien-like Swinton. (Better her than another “mystic Asian stereotype", I feel, too. It ain’t good, it ain’t great, but it removes some pain from it.) I will say, however, I am rather bummed by how underused that Chiwetel Ejiofor is as Karl Mordo. Acting as a sidekick of sorts to Strange, Ejiofor is a brillant actor looking for his moment here. The movie seems to hint toward greater things for him, but in a movie already dealing with some minority issues, it’s a shame to see Mordo marginalized.

Doctor Strange isn’t a movie without flaws, clearly, but it is a true bold step for Marvel Studios. If you can overlook the hard decisions made, you’ll have a blast - and I cannot wait to see where Stephen Strange and his incredible powers land next.

Doctor Strange is in theaters now.

Arrival (2016): A Review

Arrival is, as it seems, a movie about an alien invasion.

But like all great science fiction, even if Arrival lands more on the the realistic end of things, the film strives to be about something bigger, something greater - and it couldn’t have arrived at a better time.

Our entry point as the audience is Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams). Teaching linguistics as a college professor, Banks is quickly brought in by the United States military. Why? Twelve large, alien craft have shown up in locations all around the globe. Once every eighteen hours, a door to these crafts opens up. Our goal as a society? Find out who they are and what they want.

Working alongside military Colonel Weber (Forrest Whittaker, affecting a bizarre accent which is one of the few flaws of the film) and physicist Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner, keeping things light for the audience), Louise is fighting against the clock to not only communicate with whatever is in the ships, but work alongside similar programs around the globe, all while tension and worry builds across the world.

Much like last year’s Sicario, director Denis Villeneuve adapts Ted Chiang’s short story Story of Your Life in a way which focuses on the difficulty of the work, the struggle of the journey - but unlike Sicario, a bleak film about the fight against the drug trade - Arrival finds delight and hope in every inch moved forward.

To speak more of what happens would be to ruin the film, but the message of Arrival is strong and universal, one which we could all stand to heed to. It helps that the medicine goes down easier via the sugar of beautiful cinematography by Bradford Young (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints) and a wonderfully experimental score from JÁ³hann JÁ³hannsson (The Theory of Everything).

One final note: expect an ugly cry at the end. Bring the tissues.

Arrival is a wonderful piece of high concept drama, underlined even further by presenting a message we could all use right now. Highest possible recommendation.

Arrival is in theaters now.

The Accountant (2016): A Review

Having one of the most effective teaser trailers of the year, I sat down for director Gavin O’Connor’s The Accountant with some level of excitement and anticipation.

It looked like the perfect Fall season action pot boiler, filled with an impressive cast of notable stars and fantastic character actors. And while it’s a great time at the movies - it’s unfortunately brought down a few pegs by a script that is too clever for its own good, and makes some uncomfortable moves to the theatrical representation of those with Autism.

Let me step back.

The titular accountant is Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) - a small-town CPA by day, who also moonlights as the financial cleanup man for countless worldwide criminal organizations. Growing up with high-functioning autism, numbers are his playground. And apparently, given his worldwide crime ties, so are firearms and hand-to-hand combat. Rain Man meets Jason Bourne, if you will.

This has made him the number one target for a soon-to-retire director of the Treasury Department (JK Simmons). He’s been hunting “The Accountant" for most of his career, and with seven months left, he needs to find this guy. How appropriate is it, that at the same time, Wolff decides to take on a new client: a robotics prosthesis company, Living Robotics, who’s CEO (John Lithgow) wants to find $60+ Million just before they go public.

Did you know that the world of Fortune 500 company accounting was filled with villains and the hitmen they hire? Did you know that this can lead to accountants training themselves to become living weapons with intense moral codes (like, say, Batman)?

The Accountant is a very odd and unique way to put together an action movie, but somehow it works. Maybe it’s Affleck, doing a (thankfully) understated performance as Wolff, always slightly out of step with normal people, but incredibly skilled at the things that drive his interest. Maybe it’s the solid cast, ranging from Anna Kendrick as the plucky in-house accountant at Living Robotics, to Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead) as a remarkably charismatic hitman. Maybe it’s JK Simmons, taking his standard grumby boss character and adding some depth and pathos. But somehow - the unbelievably surreal script, written by Bill Dubuque - comes to life over an engaging 128 minutes.

The Accountant isn’t a perfect movie by any means. The script is a little too insistent on tying together every loose end, as if it’s worried about any red in it’s own ledger. The idea of Autistic adults being turned into superhuman calculators (who also are living weapons) is a disturbing one, possibly an insensitive one. (But it may be closer to the truth than we’d like). But I cannot deny that I had a really great time watching what was ultimately a high-concept version of a great 90’s action film.

This isn’t a B-Movie, it’s more a B+ Movie. And with that, I say The Accountant is completely worth a VOD rental or matinee screening. Open your mind a bit, be ready for something a little unusual, and enjoy the action. It’s worth your time.

The Accountant is in theaters now, and is available for pre-order on iTunes and Amazon.com.

Donald Glover IS Young Lando Calrissian

Announced late Friday afternoon, Lucasfilm officially confirmed a long-standing rumor about the Young Han Solo film, set for release in 2018:

Donald Glover (Community) will co-star as a younger version of Lando Calrissian.

Here’s the full press release from StarWars.com.

THE SMOOTH-TALKING SMUGGLER IS COMING BACK TO THE BIG SCREEN.

Hello, what have we here?

Lucasfilm announced today that Donald Glover, an acclaimed actor, award-winning writer, and Grammy-nominated artist, will be playing the part of Lando Calrissian in the still-untitled Han Solo Star Wars film, helmed by directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Glover will join Alden Ehrenreich — previously cast as Han Solo — in bringing two iconic Star Wars characters back to the big screen, but at a time in their lives previously unexplored. This new film depicts Lando in his formative years as a scoundrel on the rise in the galaxy’s underworld — years before the events involving Han, Leia, and Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back and his rise to Rebel hero in Return of the Jedi.

“We’re so lucky to have an artist as talented as Donald join us,“ said Lord and Miller. “These are big shoes to fill, and an even bigger cape, and this one fits him perfectly, which will save us money on alterations. Also, we’d like to publicly apologize to Donald for ruining Comic-Con for him forever.“

Glover is best known for creating and starring in the critically acclaimed FX series Atlanta (which had the highest premiere numbers for any basic cable comedy show since 2013), as well as for starring in four seasons of the show Community, and for his Grammy-nominated album Because the Internet, performed under the name Childish Gambino. In addition, Glover appeared in the Academy Award-nominated The Martian, and will be seen in the upcoming Spider-Man: Homecoming.

The untitled Han Solo movie is set for release in 2018.

It’s really remarkable to see the career Glover has had since appearing in the late, great Community. And while he may not be our new Spider-Man (he at least gets to be in the next one), he’s built an amazing career for himself - both as a musician as Childish Gambino, and as a creative entity on his own, with his new FX show Atlanta getting a lot of buzz (I really need to check it out).

I couldn’t be happier with this choice. Once again, Lord & Miller have found ways to make bad ideas sound good.

Behold, the NINTENDO SWITCH

After a long period of hype, rumors and scuttlebutt, Nintendo has finally taken the veil of mystery off of their latest video game console.

Welcome…the Nintendo Switch.

Just as rumored, the super secret console - previously called the NX - is a hybrid home console and handheld system.

www.youtube.com/watch

The promotional video does a fantastic job of showcasing how easy it is (at least through the magic of an ad) to play a game at home, pull the tablet-esq handheld bit out of the dock, snap on some controllers and take your game anywhere. The video seems to take a page out of the Apple book, at least in terms of instead of showcasing the tech, it’s showing how you, the consumer, will use it.

The trailer seems to show that there are multiple controllers - the snap-on/snap-off variety, a “pro" style controller - and those controllers can even be used off of the “tablet", too.

We see some juicy glimpses of some games - the new Legend of Zelda, a Mario title, and I think that was Skyrim? - but nothing was officially confirmed today, besides the release date.

The Nintendo Switch will hit shelves in March 2017. Are you hyped?

LOGAN Trailer Surprises And Shocks

While the movie has been teased recently on an Instagram account, I’m not sure anyone expected to see the first trailer for the third standalone Wolverine film, Logan today.

www.youtube.com/watch

Very loosely based on the Old Man Logan storyline from 2008, Logan - titled after Wolverine’s real name - is the third solo film for the X-Men character, following the awful X-Men Origins: Wolverine and the forgetable The Wolverine.

This definitely looks to be unlike any X-Men film which came before it, with a darker, more morose vibe in play here - a proper way to close out Hugh Jackman’s 16 year run as the iconic superhero.

I really dig the heck out of this trailer, and the use of Johnny Cash’s cover of “Hurt" is a strong choice, but I wonder if the almost complete removal of connection from the X-Men films will be a good thing (after the relative failure of X-Men Apocalypse) or will leave audiences confused…since not many know Logan is Wolverine’s real name.

Either way, this will be the most unique superhero film for some time, and I cannot wait to see what Hugh Jackman and director James Mangold (Walk the Line) have in store for us this March.

Logan hits theaters on March 3, 2017.

Click Play on GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2!

Oh boy, director James Gunn delivered us an embarrassment of riches today!

Next Summer, we finally get to see what Star Lord and the gang have been up to in the appropriately titled Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.

When the first film hit in 2014, it was an absolute shock of a surprise, taking obscure Marvel characters and making them a worldwide phenomenon, mixing sci-fi action with brilliant needle drops from the 1970’s.

Other studios have tried to capture the magic created by Gunn and his incredible cast, but with the reveal of the teaser poster and “sneak peek" trailer today, there’s really no outdoing the original, is there?

The teaser poster for GotG Vol. 2 is a stark black and white image showcasing our heroes - including the new additions of former villain Nebula and Star Lord’s space dad, Yondu. What I really love about it? As I said on Twitter - the poster has the vibe of the promotional photos bands put out for their second album, the one that shows they’ve grown up and matured. This has that vibe, appropriate given how crucial music is to the series.

www.youtube.com/watch

James Gunn wasn’t just going to give us a great image, though! He also dropped this fantastic first bit of footage. It’s a teaser trailer in the true sense - no plot, none of the new cast (like Kurt Russell) - just a taste of where our heroes now exist, and it’s just enough. That final shot of Rocket and Groot is going to have everyone giddy until next May.

What say you? Are you excited? HOW COULD YOU NOT BE?!

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 arrives in theaters on May 5, 2017.

The Final ROGUE ONE Trailer Is Here!

As promised yesterday, the final trailer for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is here!

Premiered on Good Morning America, by way of corporate synergy, the hype is high for this one.

In case you’ve missed the backstory of the biggest sci-fi event movie of the year, Rogue One takes place before 1977’s A New Hope, and focuses on the team who stole the plans for the Death Star, which we all recall Princess Leia loading up on R2-D2 in the opening of that film.

The team is lead by the “rogue” Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), and includes Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), a rebel intelligence officer, Chirrut Imwe (Donnie Yen), a blind Force master, ex-Imperial pilot Bodhi Rook (Riz Ahmed), assassin Baze Malbus (Jiang Wen), and memory wiped Empire droid K2SO (voiced by Alan Tudyk).

It’s a makeshift crew for a dangerous mission, and in their way is the evil, white-caped Director Krennic (Ben Mendlesohn), Darth Vader (of course), and a whole slue of Stormtroopers.

Directed by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla), the movie has had a bumpy road to the screen, but this December it finally arrives, and in this our third glimpse it is looking very, very good. This trailer focuses on Jyn’s motivation - between her father (played by Hannibal‘s Mads Mikkelsen), and her motley crew. This is probably the best glimpse of the film yet.

www.youtube.com/watch

What say you, dear reader? Is the Force with this film? Or is the dark side rising?

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story arrives on December 16, 2016.

Final ROGUE ONE Poster Hits The Web!

Gonna keep this one short!

Revealed today on the weekly Star Wars Show by director Gareth Edwards, we’ve got the OFFICIAL poster for the first Star Wars Story film, Rogue One.

This poster is simply wonderful - feeling foreboding and classic, even though it’s your standard photoshop collage of the cast.

The bigger news? The final trailer for the film hits tomorrow. We’ll bring it to you as soon as we can.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story hits theaters on December 16, 2016.

Marvel/Netflix Give Us A Taste of IRON FIST!

Also from New York Comic Con this weekend - we finally got a look at the long-awaited Iron Fist series.

The fourth Netflix/Marvel jam, all on the way to the Defenders team up, Iron Fist follows Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and the recently released Luke Cage as the next series to feature a unique street-level hero.

Who is Iron Fist? Here, I’ll let him explain.

That panel is from one of my favorite comics of all time, the Ed Brubaker/Matt Fraction/David Aja run of The Immortal Iron Fist, circa 2005. And that sort of thing is why I am so happy to see this series come to life.

www.youtube.com/watch

The trailer for the series, which just finished filming last week, is full of all sorts of butt-kicking action, but I sure hope that they remember to find the humor and heart which made Iron Fist such a compelling character after decades of being a 70’s joke.

Iron Fist hits Netflix on March 17, 2017.

JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 Teaser Hits, And Leaves Me Cold?

This past weekend at New York Comic Con, the screams and cries of fans were finally met, as we got our first look at the sequel to 2014’s surprise action classic-in-the-making, John Wick - the appropriately titled John Wick: Chapter 2.

I absolutely fell in love with the first John Wick when I finally saw it, far too late after the fact via HBO. The film lives in such a wonderfully hinted toward universe, a secondary world where hitmen have an entire society of their own. How could I not want to see more of this?

The promotional stills started to hit - including the movie’s superb teaser poster, embedded as the top image of this post (with the full poster appearing down below) - but I have to say, this trailer kinda left me cold.

www.youtube.com/watch

Oddly enough, this already feels kinda same-y to the first. John Wick versus a bunch of baddies.

I should’ve realized that the movie wouldn’t take too far a leap, but in the footage shown here (which admittingly, isn’t much), the only real advances are in the cast, which now includes Common and Ruby Rose.

The enjoyment of seeing Lawrence Fishburne and Keanu Reeves interact for the first time since the Matrix trilogy is nice, but is it enough goodwill to last an entire movie? I need something more here guys, and knowing that the sequel takes place just one week after the original isn’t necessarily making me think we’re seeing a huge progression.

Perhaps I’m wrong, maybe this will be the action movie to beat in 2017, but right now, my excitement is halted.

John Wick: Chapter 2 hits theaters on February 10, 2017.

Grim, Gritty, Mighty, Morphin: POWER RANGERS Teaser Trailer Hits The Web

After an accidental leak overnight on Facebook - which was quickly taken down, although mirrored on a number of sites - Lionsgate has turned into the skid and unveiled the first teaser trailer for their film adaptation of Power Rangers, in advance of today’s panel at New York Comic Con.

Far removed from the cheezy glory of the 90’s series, based on this trailer, the film is striking an odd mixture of The Breakfast Club and Spider-Man, but in a very grim-and-gritty way.

www.youtube.com/watch

Maybe they’re presenting the film this way to build intrigue, but this feels like an unnecessary push of “THIS AIN’T FOR KIDS". Doesn’t this feel like exactly the wrong way to market a Power Rangers film?

Based on what I’m seeing on YouTube, maybe not.

You heard it here first, Lionsgate - you need all the blood, guts, gore and f-bombs possible to have this live up to the “true" version of Power Rangers that people have wanted for 20 years. Way to get started on the right foot.

Power Rangers hits theaters on March 24, 2017.

WWE and TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Collide In New Figure Line!

Oh my gosh, my inner six-year-old is BEAMING!

Revealed today via IGN, and being shown off later today at New York Comic Con is a new line of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles mashup figures.

This isn’t the first time that TMNT has done unique figures based on a property - I remember the Universal Monster line as a kid, for example. But this time, they’re crossing over with the pro-wrestling action of the WWE!

Four figures will be made available exclusively to Walmart in November.

The series includes:

  • Leonardo as John Cena
  • Raphael as Sting
  • Donatello as The Undertaker
  • Michaelangelo as “Macho Man" Randy Savage

[gallery columns=“2” ids=“21449,21451,21448,21450”]

The figures include appropriate accessories such as title belts and a chair as a weapon.

I may need these. All of these. Wow.

NYCC 2016: POWER RANGERS Posters Released

Speaking of Power Rangers - at New York Comic Con this weekend, the long-in-gestation film will finally get a big public showing, and in advance of it all, we’ve got some new character posters via IGN - one for each Ranger.

[gallery ids=“21439,21440,21442,21444,21441”]

I have to admit, to this point, my thoughts on this film have been mixed.

Power Rangers isn’t a super key property of my childhood (although I did enjoy watching it), so I’m not going to be claiming childhood rape if the movie is bad.

That said - the reveals so far have been a mixed bag.

On the positive side, we’ve had Bill Hader join to voice Alpha 5, Bryan Cranston signing on as Zordon, and honestly - I kinda like the Elizabeth Banks interpretation of Rita Repulsa.

On the negative side, the first teaser poster was basically meaningless, and the subsequent “Zord" posters felt like a bad Pacific Rim rip-off.

But who knows, it COULD be good. Even if they all look like weird organic versions of Iron Man.

Power Rangers hits cinemas on March 24, 2017.

Real 90's Kids Are Gonna Want This POWER RANGERS Megazord

If you’ve ever wanted a SUPER high-end replica of the original Megazord from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, good news, your time has arrived.

Bandai’s Tamashii Nation’s line is introducing a high-end replica version of the famous mech, including figures of all five “zords" featuring working weapons, full transformations (including the “tank" mode) and die-cast metal.

You can check out a full gallery of the toy below.

[gallery ids=“21417,21419,21420,21421,21422,21416,21424,21432,21431,21433,21427,21430,21429,21423,21418,21426,21425,21428”]

The detail for this is unreal on this 10-inch scaled figure, but the price-tag is just as rough as the figure is perfect - $300.

If you can throw the money at it, you can pre-order at Amazon.com now. The official release isn’t until June 2017, so you can start saving your pennies now.

BLACK MIRROR Season 3 Trailer Hits The Unsuspecting Web

If you’ve yet to catch up on the superb series Black Mirror, now is the time to catch up.

Sort of a The Twilight Zone for the modern era, Black Mirror is a disturbing, frightening, and sometimes darkly humorous look at the direction our lives are taking via technology - viewed through the perspective of an anthology series.

The first two seasons aired on Channel 4 in the UK, and gained a lot of traction via Netflix here in the states - so much so that they signed creator Charlie Brooker to create a third season exclusively for the streaming network.

The first trailer for the star-studded new season (including turns from Bryce Dallas Howard and direction by Pan’s Joe Wright and 10 Cloverfield Lane’s Dan Trachtenberg) has hit the web, and it’s all the tease you could want for this long awaited new run of episodes.

www.youtube.com/watch

All six episodes of Black Mirror Season 3 will be available on Netflix starting on October 21, 2016.

THE GRAND TOUR Trailer Revealed!

While I think we can all agree that the most recent season of BBC’s Top Gear was far from optimal - I personally felt Chris Evans was a grating host, but Matt LeBlanc did great work on the show - for the gear heads who loved the show in the past, few things are more anticipated than the debut of the Amazon-exclusive The Grand Tour.

The official return to our screens of the controversial Jeremy Clarkson, the cocky Richard Hammond, and the fuddy-duddy James May hits Amazon Prime streaming on November 18th, and the first trailer arrived in the wee hours of the morning today.

www.youtube.com/watch

The show is everything you could want, with every dollar on the screen, ridiculous scenes being met by car-related antics, and of course, the main trio’s chemistry being untouchable.

Personally, I cannot wait to watch - and rewatch - this series.

The Grand Tour airs weekly on Amazon Prime starting November 18, 2016.

BLADE RUNNER Sequel - Titled & Dated

While I’ve been skeptical of the sequel to Blade Runner since it was announced, I have to admit, this morning’s announcement has me very excited.

Shouted to the world via, what else, their official Twitter account, the creative team for the Blade Runner sequel announced the films official title and release date to much excitement…if also hand-wringing and concern.

twitter.com/bladerunn…

Accompanied by a photo of the sequel’s director, Denis Villeneuve, in conversation with original film director Ridley Scott, original film star (and sequel co-star) Harrison Ford, and sequel lead Ryan Gossling, it’s official - the movie is now Blade Runner 2049, and will release one year from today, October 6, 2017.

Blade Runner is arguably my favorite movie of all time, so I am excited and scared for this sequel, but I’m also delighted to see it will come out 2 days after my birthday. I hope it’s a great gift.

Based on Villeneuve’s prior films - Sicario and the award-season-buzzed Arrival, I hope this is in good hands, but time will tell us….is this a Mad Max: Fury Road, or is this an Independence Day: Resurgence?

Kubo and the Two Strings (2016): A Review

Sometimes it’s the simplest stories that can be told the best, and nowhere is it truer than with Kubo and the Two Strings.

The latest film from Laika, Kubo begins with the story of a woman fighting a raging sea. She’s trying desperately to make landfall. Why? As we find out when she washes ashore - she’s trying to protect her son, a very special boy, who lost his eye to his Grandfather…better known as the Moon King.

The film shifts to 11 years later - the boy, Kubo (Art Parkinson), works to care for his now catatonic mother, and earn money as a storyteller, waxing yarns about a heroic samurai named Hanzo. Hanzo is in search of magical armor, and faces many perils on his journey, and wouldn’t you know it…those stories are more real than Kubo ever knew.

This sets Kubo on an adventure - searching for this ancient armor, with sidekicks in the form of a grumpy monkey, named Monkey (Charlize Theron), and a cursed samurai named Beetle (Matthew McConaughey). The quest that follows is a classic heroes journey, cut from the same cloth of The Legend of Zelda and countless Japanese role-playing games (not to mention many fairy tales). But what makes Kubo standout is the confidence with which Laika tells its tale.

While on paper a family film, Kubo goes to very dark places - ideas of spirituality, death, the afterlife, love, loss, and most importantly, life after loss are explored with remarkable maturity, even if it’s as the backdrop of an adventure film.

With their two best films, Coraline and ParaNorman, Laika proved themselves adept storytellers, using the basis of a family-friendly animated film to explore deeper, more mature topics (for example, ParaNorman has some of the most striking interpretations of sadness and depression I’ve ever seen) - Kubo and the Two Strings continues this proud lineage, and I can only imagine the strong effect it will have on generations of children to come.

I realize now that I had yet to speak about the brilliance of the animation of the film, but it’s mostly because - at this point - Laika is showing off with how well they’ve perfected the art of stop-motion animation. The visuals here are breathtaking, and I recommend staying through the credits, as there is a brilliant sequence showing the real-life scale of one of the movie’s most breath-taking set pieces.

Wonderful for all ages, full of heart, depth, and brilliant artistry, Kubo and the Two Strings is a late-summer joy for all ages.

Kubo and the Two Strings is in theaters now, and is available for pre-order via iTunes and Amazon.

Marvel's RUNAWAYS Heads To Hulu!

One of my favorite comic series of all time is Brian K. Vaughan’s run on Marvel’s Runaways.

Debuting in 2003, Runaways featured an original team of teenagers who team up and decide to become heroes of their own, when they discover during one fateful night that their parents make up the criminal syndicate known as “The Pride".

Vaughan’s version ran for two series (which you can pick up in collected form at Amazon, which I highly recommend you do - Vol. 1, Vol. 2), and then had a series of revivals…which, while featuring big name talent like Joss Whedon (post-Buffy, pre-Avengers) and Terry Moore, never really hit the same vibes as Vaughan’s pitch-perfect run.

Never the less, the comic was always rumored to be a potential movie property for Marvel, and thankfully, it will be coming to life.

Instead of being the next big Marvel blockbuster, this will be actually be going to TV, as the first production between Marvel and Hulu.

That’s right, they’re working both sides of the streaming world now!

Deadline.com got the announcement. Here’s the most important bit:

That’s right, the creators of Gossip Girl will be running away with Runaways, appropriate given the teen-based nature of the show.

Now, I’m hoping that the series will be more like the Vaughan run, and less like those that followed, and as a TV show, strike a vibe between the Marvel Netflix shows, and Hulu’s own British acquisition, Misfits.

Runaways will hit Hulu sometime in the indeterminate future.

Fall 2016's Must See Movies

Alright folks, the Summer movie season is almost at an end, and although I personally have a few films left to see - including Pete’s Dragon, Sausage Party (not so sure after the news came out this week about the animators), Kubo and the Two Strings and War Dogs - it’s time to start looking forward to the movies of the Fall.

In turn, here is my list of movies that I am most looking forward to this Fall.

For the sake of easy listing, I am considering the “fall” to be September 1st-December 31st, and I’ve tried to include a link to a trailer where applicable. If no trailer is yet available, I’ve linked to the wiki.

What movies are you most looking forward to? Click through to see my list.

It's official, ARRIVAL is my most anticipated movie for Fall.

I fell pretty hard for Arrival when its striking teaser trailer hit the web last week.

As it promised, the full trailer for the film has arrived today, and it’s everything you could want and more.

The visuals - from cinematographer Bradford Young (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints) are stunning.  The film itself seems to be a tense stunner, as one would expect from director Denis Villeneuve (Sicario).  And of course, the cast is strong, built around Amy Adams (American Hustle) as the lead.

www.youtube.com/watch

The idea of a movie focusing less on an alien invasion, and more of the idea of the ability (or even potential) of communicating, is definitely one that hasn’t been the focus before (even if Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Contact touched on it), and it feels like Villeneuve is going to have a potential classic on his hands, just in time for him to take on the Blade Runner sequel.

The Fall movie season was already rife with potential, with a great mixture of Oscar fare and genre material, like Sully, Blair Witch, The Magnificent Seven, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, The Accountant, Doctor Strange and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, among others.

But after seeing this trailer, Arrival is my most anticipated movie of this Fall, a season where over the past few years (Gravity, Interstellar, The Martian) the idea of exploring what more is out there has taken center stage.

I just hope it lives up to the hype.

Arrival hits theaters on November 11, 2016.

The Full ROGUE ONE Trailer Has Arrived!

As hyped all week, the new trailer for the Star Wars spin-off Rogue One has finally been revealed, after airing during NBC’s Olympics coverage.

Based in a timeline shortly before A New Hope, Rogue One is a grittier Star Wars film, and is the first to not focus on the Skywalkers - hence the Star Wars Story subtitle.

Focusing instead on rebelious Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), the movie has faced some controversy on its way to the theater, including some much fussed about reshoots.

But how is it looking now? Click play.

www.youtube.com/watch

Just as gritty, dark, and looming as the original teaser was, I am all in on a movie that focuses on the harder battles fought alone the way.

AND HOW DOPE IS DONNY YEN?!

Overall, I feel that the movie is in good hands, with Godzilla’s Gareth Edwards behind the camera, but we’ll see if Disney/Lucasfilm can continue the momentum started with the joyous rebirth of Star Wars this past Christmas with The Force Awakens.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story hits theaters on December 16, 2016.

The Very Affecting (and Effective) Teaser for ARRIVAL

I’m not sure what it is exactly about this teaser trailer for Arrival, but ever since I’ve seen it, the movie shot up to the top of my Fall 2016 “must-see" list.

There’s something incredibly exciting, engaging, and driving in the footage we see here (even though it is - technically - a “trailer for a trailer", as I hate so much), but I have a very good feeling about this.

youtu.be/gwqSi_ToN…

The cast is great (Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner), the director is great (Sicario absolutely kicked my ass), and as Interstellar and Contact have proven through the years, I am a sucker for realistic sci-fi premises.

What do you think?

And should I read the book it’s based on, first?

Arrival hits theaters on November 11, 2016.

Suicide Squad (2016): A Review

It’s an odd time to be a fan of genre films.

Now more than ever, the release of a movie is less about the movie itself, and instead focuses on the hype train - an ever growing mixture of footage, stills, and marketing designed to make sure that if nothing else, you, gentle viewer at home, make your way to the cineplex opening weekend.

It has inspired vitriolic fandom for films years out from release, and no more is this apparent than in the fandom surrounding the DC Comics Extended Universe.

Built around two films thus far - with the third being the focus of this review - the DC Comics Extended Universe fan is a die-hard, hard core fan of what is, mostly, just a list of names of properties and dates selected for the future.

It’s this fandom that causes attacks on social media. It’s this fandom that calls for movie-criticism aggregate Rotten Tomatoes to be shut down. (Which I find odd, as isn’t Metacritic a better target? That actually scores movies.) And unfortunately, with Suicide Squad it’s difficult to separate the film from the hype.

But I will do my best with this review to focus strictly on the film, none of the hype.

Since this seems to be the litmus test upon which we’re basing reviews now - a quick clarification of my standing here: I really enjoyed Man of Steel. Thus far, I have yet to see Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. I loved Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy, and I would absolutely love it if there were a series of DC Comics films as vital, enjoyable and undeniable as the Marvel Studios run.

And now…onto the actual review.

Suicide Squad is an absolute, unforgivable mess of a film.

I could end it right then and there, and it’d be worth the level of effort, given how little joy the movie gave me, and how little joy it gives me to say that - but I’ll elaborate.

Set in the wake of Batman v Superman (there’s a major spoiler for that film in the beginning here), government agent Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) wants to create a special black-ops group, codenamed Task Force X. This team is made up of nothing but some of the worst of the worst, the most violent and unpredictable of villains. If they succeed on their tasks? Their prison stays each get a little shorter. If they fail? They are killed. Each mission is a suicide mission…hence, Suicide Squad.

That sounds like just a tag line for the movie, but sadly, given the bizarre, paper-thin script (I’m not sure if there’s actually a three-act structure in play here), that could also be the best summary of the plot of the film.

The movie that ensues over the next 123 minutes is a disjointed, poorly edited mess. Sequences don’t seem to play out before you logically, they hit the cool looking beats, and we move on - feeling more like a movie trailer than an actual chronological film. (It makes me wonder if the rumors of the trailer company getting the final edit are true.)

Here’s an example of what I mean. With the most minor of spoilers, here’s how the opening of the movie plays out:

HOW MANY TIMES DO WE NEED THE SAME SCENES SERVING THE SAME PURPOSE?

I don’t like to fall to the “raging blogger" stereotype, but within the first thirty minutes alone, I was absolutely frustrated with this movie. Who had final edit? Why did no one try to clear this up? How could a major Hollywood production get released that wastes so much time?

And as the rest of the film plays out, you quickly realize why: the movie - with the exception of an ultimately pointless diversion involving the Joker (Jared Leto) that could’ve been completely excised from the film with no real harm done - is built around one, very lengthy mission. The worst part? The in and outs of the mission aren’t completely explained to the cast - nor us, the audience - meaning action occurs with little to no impact or interest.

Even more insultingly, the big baddie feels like a SparkNotes version of the superhero movie playbook. There’s a glowing macguffin, cgi drones for the heroes to dispatch (in poorly paced action sequences), a big explodey bit in the middle of the city, and a giant special effects heavy to-do at the end. And the effects aren’t even that good, rendering what should be a very cool sequence where two powered-up characters collide looking like a round of Mortal Kombat on the Xbox 360.

The part that is so frustrating? Suicide Squad, with a compedent script, direction and editing, could have been great. Margot Robbie IS Harley Quinn. Questionable design choices aside, she is a fantastic translation of the beloved Batman character. Will Smith does a great job of subverting his blockbuster movie legacy as Deadshot, working well within an ensamble cast, and giving heart to the deadly hitman. Viola Davis is deadly and devilish as the heartless Amanda Waller, and even Jai Courtney is enjoyable to watch as Captain Boomerang. Instead, they’re all wasted, but not as wasted as other characters in the film - one of whom is literally killed off minutes after being introduced.

The much vaunted performance of Jared Leto as the Joker is positively baffling, as he is a secondary interest of the film, and his performance is dull at best. Channeling Jim Carrey doing an impression of James Cagney, this is not going to be going down as a Heath Ledger-like gamechanger. That said, at least he is not as bad as Cara Delevingne as Enchantress, which is possibly the worst performance I’ve ever seen of a major comic book villain, full-stop. If you can justify to me why she’s basically dancing in the last act of the film, you’re a better person than I.

Even the music pissed me off! The wrong lessons were learned from Guardians of the Galaxy, as there are countless needledrops from beloved songs, but absolutely none are relevant to the scene at hand, or become iconic within the movie themselves. They’re obnoxious and call attention to themselves.

I’d love to say that what Marvel Studios is doing is easy, but with every installment of the DC Extended Universe, we learn how difficult it is.

Suicide Squad is the best example yet of how Warner Bros has no idea what to do with its wonderful library of superhero characters. The movie is just plain bad. In no way, shape, or form should families be seeing this together (the movie is very dark, sexual, and nihilistic), and worst of all? It has made me dread future films. There are two major superhero cameos in this movie, and as opposed to in the Marvel films, where I get excited to see these characters and how they’ll interact, I was just bummed that more was to come.

In a summer of movies that have dissapointed, Suicide Squad might be the boldest spit in the face from a major studio this year.

Don’t even bother.

Suicide Squad is in theaters now. I recommend something else.

Christopher Nolan's DUNKIRK - Announcement Trailer

Much in the spirit of the announcement teasers seen for Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, Inception, The Dark Knight Rises and Interstellar, Warner Bros is giving us only the smallest of tastes of director Christopher Nolan’s next film - Dunkirk.

www.youtube.com/watch

There’s a sense of forboding dread in the minute long teaser, but that’s about all I have.

Here’s what we do know so far - none of which, really, from the trailer:

Dunkirk hits theaters on July 21, 2017.

Jason Bourne (2016): A Review

Released between 2002 and 2007, the original Bourne trilogy was very much a product of its time.

Taking the story of an amnesiac CIA assassin, and graduating turning it into a story that both answered the questions of the history of its lead, while serving as a criticism as the “do anything for patriotism" government, it was a franchise that perfectly reflected the paranoia and concern of the post—9/11 world.

Ending with Bourne’s true identity revealed in the closing of The Bourne Ultimatium, the franchise pivoted James Bond-style, with a new lead in Jeremy Renner’s Aaron Cross, yet another black-ops soldier gone wrong. But it didn’t captivate the world the way the tales of Jason Bourne did (sorry, we just don’t care about chems, I suppose?), and the world wondered: would there ever be a fourth, proper Jason Bourne movie?

Lead star Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass always said that for Jason Bourne to return, the time - and the story - had to be right. And now, nine years after The Bourne Ultimatium, Jason Bourne has hit theaters.

Time hasn’t been kind to Jason Bourne since he revealed to the world the secret CIA operation known as Treadstone: he’s now a nomad, traveling through Greece as a street fighter, living off-the-grid with his monies earned knocking out his opponents. But fate intervines in the form of Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles, reprising her role from the original trilogy), the now former CIA hacker, who is working to continue to take down the CIA, united with a WikiLeaks-esq movement to free data across the Internet.

Parsons gets access to files that she shouldn’t - containing a new quirk to Bourne’s already tragic backstory - and like so, the movie is off to the races. It’s a battle of time, with secret CIA intel in play, as the CIA - lead by Robert Dewey (Tommy Lee Jones, in a hybrid role similar to those of Brian Cox and David Straithairn in prior installments) and his right-hand woman, the ambitious Heather Lee (Ex-Machina’s Alicia Vikander) - tries to locate, and eliminate Jason Bourne. To spice things up, the CIA has hired an enigmatic assassin named only “The Asset" (Vincent Cassel continuing his ongoing movie fued with Matt Damon from Ocean’s Twelve and Ocean’s Thirteen) to find Bourne if and when traditional means fail, and the cat-and-mouse game begins.

In execution, the movie is, at its best and its worst, Bourne-by-Numbers.

We have countless sequences of CIA monitoring key locations from their base at Langley. Tense conversations via cellphone, ear piece and text message. Twists and turns as characters illuminate their shakey alligences. And of course, hard-nosed action-sequences with the most unsteady of cameras. You wanted another Jason Bourne movie? Congrats - you got one.

But that’s also where the biggest flaw lies. In the lead-up to this movie, both Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass indicated that if they were bringing Bourne back, it’d be for a story that needed to be told. A story of the moment. At most, the things that bind the script of Jason Bourne - co-written by director Greengrass and Christopher Rouse, better known as Greengrass’s editor - to the world of 2016 are an action setpiece set during a political conflict between protestors and riot cops, and an at-best iffy secondary plotline referencing a collusion between the CIA and a not-quite-Facebook, named Deep Dream, lead by a Zuckerberg-esq young CEO, played by The Night Of’s Riz Ahmed.

When the Bourne story ended in 2007, Moby’s “Extreme Ways" played, and it felt like a definitive closure on a fantastic film trilogy. Here, even with thrilling action and strong performances (even if Damon feels particularly reserved), Jason Bourne does not feel as vital or as needed as the original trilogy did.

But hey, this is a movie business, and we better get ready to see Jason Bourne again and again and again and again…

Jason Bourne is in theaters now, and is available for pre-order via iTunes and Amazon.

THE GREAT WALL: A Trailer Representing the Future of Film

On paper, the trailer for The Great Wall isn’t all that amazing, or seems that important.

www.youtube.com/watch

Visually, the movie is arresting - directed by Zhang Yimou, who gave the world Hero and House of Flying Daggers.

The plot seems somewhat simple, using the building of the Great Wall of China as the setting of a giant monster/fantasy film.

So, what makes The Great Wall so important?

The movie is a glimpse of a possible future of film-making.

Funded by the (now) Chinese-owned Legendary Entertainment, The Great Wall was shot in China, features a primarily Chinese cast, and is the most expensive film ever created in China.

Yes, it features Matt Damon (to court us, the American audience), and is written by no less than three people (including Prince of Persia’s Doug Miro and The Bourne Ultimatium’s Tony Gilroy), but this is a release looking to do well here in the US - yet absolutely CLEAN UP in China.

Much has been written about how major blockbuster films are making concessions to the Chinese market, which is fast becoming the biggest market for the movie industry. But what happens if, and when, a Chinese production becomes a huge hit?

Will The Great Wall be the tipping point? Will Matt Damon appear in more scenes than what we see in the trailer? Will the movie actually be any good? We’ll find out in the beginning of 2017.

The Great Wall hits theaters on February 17, 2017.

I've Come Here To Praise STRANGER THINGS

Two weeks ago today, Netflix released their latest original series to little fanfare - an eight-part thriller titled Stranger Things.

From the original trailer, we didn’t know much. It had a Spielbergian vibe, somehow scored Winona Ryder, and involved some general spookiness in a small town.

Since the release, I slowly worked my way through all eight episodes, and over the weekend, completed the series.  With some reflection, I’ve come to say this: Stranger Things is not only one of Netflix’s finest original programs, not only one of the best shows of the year, but - personally - might be one of my favorite television programs of all time.

Created by The Duffer Brothers, relative unknowns to the industry (they had some television writing work before this), Stranger Things goes beyond being a Super 8-esq love letter to 1980’s cinema.  The series absolutely devours the 1980’s aesthetic, to where it grows beyond a fetishizing of what was, and into a great work that stands alongside those it clearly worships.

All of the greats can be seen here: Stand By Me, John Carpenter’s The Thing, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, Poltergeist, even anthology series like Tales from the Darkside, countless movies devoured by the kids of the 1980’s and 1990’s have been chopped, cut, and re-created to tell a new spooky tale that somehow feels as fresh and relevant for today as it would’ve in the era that it is set, 1983.

Even the soundtrack - provided by members of the synth group S U R V I V E - carries a John Carpenter-esq feel. I’ve desperately wanted to give it a listen since completing the series, and thankfully, the soundtrack is coming. I have to give credit to whoever chose the licensed tunes for the series, as well. They picked some great 1980’s songs, but even some surprise contemporary tracks, including Peter Gabriel’s minimal, orchestral take on David Bowie’s “Heroes”.

I could literally gush for hundreds of words about the strength of the cast. Decent child actors are hard to find, and it certainly sounds like the Duffers had to run quite the gauntlet to find the kids they did, but the effort was worthwhile.

From the toothless Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), to the ethereal and creepy Eleven (brit Millie Bobbie Brown), to our main protagonist Mike (Finn Wolfhard, who I am excited to see in It), these kids are the real deal. But it helps to have an incredible cast around them - The Newsroom’s David Harbour doing career-defining work as the local police chief, Jim Hopper. 80’s it-girl Winona Ryder subverting her career and growing into the worried mother after being the ingenue. Even young lovers Nancy (Natalia Dyer, who would’ve been a perfect scream-queen in the Nightmare on Elm Street days) and her boyfriend Steve (Joe Keery, looking like he could be Ben Schwartz’s brother), the perfect asshole. And who can forget Barb (Shannon Purser), the BFF who has had a cult built around her? (Seriously, check out the actress’s Twitter page. It’s crazy.)

Every episode is perfectly paced. Fantastic cliffhangers, brilliant edge-of-your seat storytelling. The title screen (and its brilliant typography) bring Stephen King to mind, and the show could’ve easily been a lost novel of his - complete with the page-turning intensity.

I cannot say enough great things about this show. You need to watch this show. If you read this blog: you will love this show. Join the Stranger Things cult.

One last note: currently, while they have yet to be picked up, The Duffer Brothers are telling the world they have an idea for a second season, a sequel to the first. I can say this - the landing is stuck SO well, I’m not sure that I want to see one.

But at the same time, I know that I’ll stay up until 3am Eastern the day the second season releases to watch it. Once a fanboy, always a fanboy.

Stranger Things is streaming now on Netflix.

THE ROCKETEER Gets A Reboot

Released in 1991, The Rocketeer was not a huge hit, but for those who loved it, it’s unforgettable.  A fantastic love letter to WWII pulp storytelling, and a great adaptation of the Dave Stevens comic, the movie is the epitome of underrated.

In turn, I think this is a perfect example of a property worthy of a reboot.

Sounds like Walt Disney Studios agrees, as they have begun development of a “sequel-reboot”, a’la Mad Max: Fury Road, titled The Rocketeers.

Hollywood Reporter got the exclusive, including a VERY INTERESTING reveal. Check it out:

Yeah, that’s right. A strong, African-American female pilot will be the lead here. What an awesome idea - pushing forward the franchise, while also giving a modern twist and take. I’m very much for it.

More on The Rocketeers as we have it.

A New THE ACCOUNTANT Trailer Hits The Web

I fell in love - pretty hard - with the first teaser trailer for The Accountant when it hit the web earlier this year. Maybe it was the incredibly effective use of Radiohead’s “Everything In Its Right Place”, but it worked very well for me.

Warner Bros has revealed a second, longer trailer for the film, and it certainly gives more detail, but unlike most trailers these days, I cannot really tell you the point-to-point plot (or its resolution) from this trailer. Well done, marketers!

www.youtube.com/watch

All and all, this looks like a uniquely cerebral thriller, and a nice non-Bat role for Affleck.

Is it too much to hope that Radiohead is used in the movie proper?

The Accountant hits theaters on October 14, 2016.

SDCC 2016: New DOCTOR STRANGE Trailer

The Marvel Studios panel at SDCC is going on now, and while most things will be remaining exclusive to that panel, they did have a gift for us at home - a brand new trailer for Doctor Strange.

www.youtube.com/watch

Featuring, finally, a look at the villain (as played by Mads Mikkelsen) and more, crazy, reality-bending action - this is looking like another gem in the crown of Marvel Studios. Awesome stuff.

EDIT: We got a new poster, too!

Doctor Strange hits theaters on November 4, 2016.

Star Trek Beyond (2016): A Review

Space. The final frontier.

For 50 years now, the ideas of Gene Roddenberry have been brought to life on screens both large and small, and to celebrate the massive anniversary, we return to the Kelvin timeline for a third installment in the JJ Abrams rebooted universe - this is Star Trek Beyond.

With a new director behind the wheel (Fast and Furious’s Justin Lin), and a whip-smart script from geek royalty (Simon Pegg, who also plays Scotty, alongside Doug Jung), the third installment of this incarnation of Star Trek does something surprising and enjoyable: it scales down.

While this may be surprising, especially in an era of increasingly higher stakes in the world of multi-million-dollar blockbusters, the choice to focus on a team-based adventure (versus an extinction level event, as seen in 2009’s Star Trek and 2013’s Star Trek Into Darkness) is what gives Beyond a fresh feeling, and allows the best part of this version of the franchise to shine - the incredible cast.

Let’s keep the synopsis of the plot simple: After an amusing opening sequence (involving some intergalactic misunderstandings) - the USS Enterprise is on year three of its five year mission. Kirk (Chris Pine) is starting to feel wary about seeing the mission through, as he wonders how much of his dedication was due to an interest in the mission, and how much was due to his need to prove people wrong.

While refueling and refocusing on the next phase of their trip at the star-base known as Yorktown, the crew are made aware of a distress call from an escape pod, drifting out of a nearby nebula. The lone occupant says she is the lone survivor of an attack - and with that, the Enterprise is back in action, looking for what happened.

Unfortunately for our crew, it was an ambush, and ship and crew alike crash land on a planet - left without a working ship, contact with the United Federation of Planets, and a need to get back to Yorktown, as the orchestrator of the ambush - an alien named Krall (Idris Elba, under considerable makeup), is aiming to destroy Yorktown and its millions of inhabitants.

The film that follows is a back-to-basics adventure with a focus on the wonderful interplay and relationships found in this version of the crew. The back and forth between the dour Bones (Karl Urban) and ultra literal Spock (Zachary Quinto) is a particular highlight, making for most of the film’s laughs. But the newest addition is one of the most interesting: a survivor on the planet, a white-skinned alien named Jaylah (Kingsmen’s Sofia Boutella) - a unique rogue, who may be the key to the Enterprise’s way out of danger, while being dangerous herself.

In many ways, what makes this movie such a delight is the focus on capital-A Adventure, as opposed to CG-based sturm und drang. The casting of the first JJ Abrams film was a remarkable stroke of luck, and seeing this crew interact with each other - as opposed to countless ships blowing up - is a joy.

That’s not to say that the movie is without strong visuals, however. Certain sequences have a sublime beauty - such as the Enterprise almost skipping like a rock on a lake, during an early hyperspace sequence - and the space port of Yorktown is a visual delight, calling to mind countless Syd Mead pieces, while bending and twisting like an MC Escher painting.

Also of note is how strong the storytelling is here - while more efficient due to the smaller scale, Pegg brings his clockwork like skills of screenwriting to the world of Trek, pulling together disparate elements from the script in the end, a’la his work with Edgar Wright. Additionally, as his work in the Fast & Furious franchise shows, Justin Lin knows how to make an ensemble cast feel like a family - and he excels with the current versions of Kirk, Spock, Bones and company.

The darkest thing in the movie is the unfortunate shadow of the real world: since the last film, the world lost the gifts of the original Spock, Leonard Nimoy, and recently, the tragic young death of Anton Yelchin (who played Chekov, in this latest revision). Their shadows cast over the film, but never consume it - as this Trek film is a celebration of them, and the work they helped create.

I admit - prior to the JJ Abrams films, I was never a Trekkie - and unlike many, I enjoyed both the 2009 reboot and Into Darkness, but what I am sure of is this: Star Trek Beyond will delight you, no matter how deep into the pool of Star Trek you’ve dived.

Much how Skyfall was a brilliant back-to-basics James Bond outing to celebrate 50 years of the iconic spy, Star Trek Beyond celebrates 50 years of Star Trek by returning to what makes it great: a belief that we can unite together and do the impossible.

Star Trek Beyond is in theaters now, and is available for pre-order via iTunes and Amazon.

SDCC 2016: THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE Trailer

Sorry, Christopher Nolan - your version of Batman is no longer going to be the definitive one.

Finally hitting the web after a significant delay, the Comic-Con exclusive trailer for The LEGO Batman Movie is here, and holy hell is it funny.

Continuing on with the character where The LEGO Movie left off, this version of Batman (Will Arnett) is as ego-centric as ever, but he’s become required (by Alfred) to start actually caring for his adopted son…who, as we all know, becomes Robin (Michael Cera).

www.youtube.com/watch

Hilarity will ensue, if the sequences in this trailer are any indication - including the way Robin picks his costume - and I will undoubtedly be there day one for this one in theaters.

The LEGO Batman Movie arrives in theaters on February 10, 2017.

SDCC 2016: FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM Trailer

After a big stunt, where lead star Eddie Redmayne gave everyone in Hall H a wand, Warner Bros revealed the newest trailer for Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them to an excited comic con crowd.

And the beasts - they are EVERYWHERE. It sounds like this is a big beast hunt, in fact - a weird hybrid of Harry Potter and PokÁ©mon, where our hero (Newt Scamander) has to search 1920’s New York for his lost creatures.

www.youtube.com/watch

All kidding aside, this will be HUGE this November, and I’m glad to see the closer-to-final footage delivering on its promise.

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them breaks out on November 18, 2016.

SDCC 2016: KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORD Trailer

I’m going to go against the grain of the Internet here - this next trailer came as a delighful surprise: Guy Ritchie’s take on the Arthurian legend - King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.

Pacific Rim star Charlie Hunnam takes on the role of this version of Arthur, and much like Ritchie’s version of Sherlock Holmes, it’s a very modern, flashy, slick, and surreal take on a timeless story.

www.youtube.com/watch

I can completely see why this wouldn’t work for some people, but I was sold on its irreverant sense of humor and style for days. My question: is this REALLY still set for a SIX FILM series?

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword gets knighted on March 24, 2017.

SDCC 2016: KONG: SKULL ISLAND Trailer Arrives!

This is a trailer that I’ve been looking forward to - but it’s clear things are still under wraps for Kong: Skull Island.

Directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts, Skull Island is the latest rebirth of the massive ape franchise, and it’s clear that they’re making the BIGGEST KONG EVER.

That said, there isn’t much here to go off of, besides the scale and scope, and the incredible cast (which reads like a murder’s row of some of my favorite actors), including Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, and acting’s John Goodman.

www.youtube.com/watch

Here’s hoping the final film works out well, making Kong vs. Godzilla a total slam dunk.

Kong: Skull Island arrives in theaters on March 10, 2017.

SDCC 2016: SUICIDE SQUAD Remix Trailer

We thought we’d seen every possible trailer for Suicide Squad, but the fans at Warner Bros’s SDCC presentation in Hall H got one more - a special “Remix" trailer, presented by director David Ayer.

www.youtube.com/watch

Featuring a number of selections from the film’s soundtrack, Suicide Squad continues to be - of all things - the movie filled with the villains, which seems more upbeat and enjoyable, than the prior movie with the heroes.

It’s clear that Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn is going to be the standout here, but this trailer made me really enjoy Will Smith’s Deadshot, and weirdly enough, Jai Courtney’s Boomerang.

I also have to give the marketing team credit - unlike other movies, where I can pretty much figure out the 3-act structure, I’m honestly not sure what the plot progression will be here…and I like that. But are they hiding something awful in the third act? We’ll find out soon.

Suicide Squad hits theaters on August 5, 2016.

SDCC 2016: JUSTICE LEAGUE Revealed

Next in our cavilcade of content from Warner Bros’ SDCC 2016 panel is the first public look at Justice League.

The first team image was revealed, as seen as the header to this article, but the true excitement was in the reveal of the first footage.

It’s fun, it’s funny, it’s actually delightful - it’s everything that Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice weren’t.

www.youtube.com/watch

Now, could this footage just be cut in a way to get fans on board? Sure - but considering I’m coming away from this excited, if not completely delighted, they’re doing something right.

I’m even OK with their weird choice to have two Barry Allen Flashes running around between TV and movies!

Justice League hits theaters on November 17, 2017.

SDCC 2016: WONDER WOMAN Trailer

The great, grand Warner Bros panel rocked Hall H at San Diego Comic Con today, and with it came a WHOLE slue of trailers.

I’ll be throwing out my thoughts on each one, and we start big with our first look at next year’s DC Comic’s adaptation - the long-awaited Wonder Woman.

Incredibly stylish (and stylized) in a way similar to Zack Snyder’s work, Patty Jenkins’ film takes us to the World War I era, as Diana, the Amazon, makes her first impact on “man’s world" - meeting Steve Rogers (played by Star Trek’s Chris Pine).

www.youtube.com/watch

I love the colors, I love the action, I’m really starting to love Gadot as Wonder Woman, I just wish their were less slow-mo. Either way, this will be a HUGE movie next Summer.

Wonder Woman hits theaters on June 2, 2017.

SDCC 2016: Warner Bros Builds Hype, Releases Posters

Tomorrow afternoon, Warner Bros will take the stage of Hall H at San Diego Comic Con with one of the most anticipated presentations of the weekend.

It’s appropriate, then, that they released a trilogy of posters in advance, to help stoke the embers of hype and excitement leading into tomorrow’s events.

First up is a Comic Con exclusive poster for Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them. The prequel (of sorts) to Harry Potter, fans are anxiously awaiting the Thanksgiving release of the film (written by JK Rowling), and I’m guessing new footage - if not a trailer proper - will be shown.

Next, we have a poster for The LEGO Batman Movie. Following in the footsteps of The LEGO Movie, this puts us into the world of LEGO Batman, a hilariously self centered version of the Dark Knight.  I really liked the first teaser trailer for the film, and based on the stills which came out earlier this week, I think this is going to be a very cool reimagining of the character.

Also - considering iTunes Trailer’s Twitter keeps mentioning the panel this weekend, I assume we’ll be able to see a new trailer online tomorrow.

Last - but far from least - is the official teaser poster for Wonder Woman. Gal Gadot’s version of the character was very beloved, and this classy and colorful poster is sure to send a message to those fearing that the DC Extended Universe will be as bleak and dark as the Zack Snyder films which kicked it off.  This is seriously a fantastic poster.

Everything hits SDCC tomorrow, July 23rd, at 11:30am Pacific. We’ll do our best to bring you the official content that hits online.

SDCC 2016: Marvel Studios and Netflix Defend Their Position

Yesterday at the first official day of San Diego Comic Con (aka Comic Con International), the big buzz came from the Marvel Studios / Netflix panel.

Focusing on the September debut of Luke Cage, and celebrating the fantastic two seasons of Daredevil and debut season of Jessica Jones, fans were buzzing about the future of these mature series.

For those who don’t recall what those shows looked like, here’s a sizzle reel which was shown at the panel.

youtu.be/NJ2YcM7e4…

The big news from the panel?

Rumor became real, as Marvel Studios TV head Jeph Loeb, alongside star Jon Bernthal, confirmed that Frank Castle - better known as The Punisher - would be getting his own solo show on Netflix, following his popular debut in the second season of Daredevil.

The main focus on the panel was to hype the September debut of the Luke Cage solo series. Mike Colter looks to be doing a great job as the street-level hero (building off of his appearance in Jessica Jones), and the first official trailer hits all the right notes. We’ve got it for you here.

www.youtube.com/watch

Luke Cage premieres on September 30, 2016.

As if it weren’t going to happen, Marvel and Netflix were pleased to announce that their hit series Daredevil would be returning in the not-too-distant future for a third season. The announcement trailer is wonderfully understated.

twitter.com/Daredevil…

Please note, there is no scheduled date for Daredevil Season 3, at this time.

Arguably the series I’m most excited for (given how much I loved the Immortal Iron Fist series), Marvel finally shared footage from their next big Netflix franchise - Iron Fist.

Starring Game of Thrones' Finn Jones as Danny Rand, the teaser trailer - while short - hits all the right notes.

www.youtube.com/watch

From day one, the Marvel/Netflix series have been built around culminating in one grand adventure - much how their bigger brothers on the silver screen came together in 2012’s The Avengers, we knew that Daredevil, Iron Fist, Jessica Jones and Luke Cage would one day unite as The Defenders.

Thanks to a brief teaser shown at the end of the panel, we now know that it will come together in 2017…presumably after Iron Fist airs.

www.youtube.com/watch

I have to admit, it’s an embarrassment of riches coming from the Marvel and Netflix partnership. If the quality remains high, we’re all in for a treat.

My only question: Where is Jessica Jones Season 2?

 

Alden Ehrenreich IS Young Han Solo!

Earlier today, the news stated months ago was confirmed, as it was revealed that Alden Ehrenreich (Hail, Caesar!) will play a younger Han Solo in the Han Solo film being directed by The LEGO Movie’s Phil Lord and Chris Miller.

Here’s StarWars.com with the press release:

Lets just hope that Lord and Miller have an easier time directing him than Ralph Fiennes did.

The untitled Han Solo film is scheduled for a 2018 release.

New ROGUE ONE Poster and Footage From Star Wars Celebration!

The first Star Wars Story is certainly looking to be the grimmest, if this behind the scenes footage is any indication.

Unveiled on Friday during it’s spotlight panel, Lucasfilm has revealed the official poster for Rogue One, and a lovely behind-the-scenes reel. (They also showed a new trailer, which was for the live audience only.)

The poster is absolutely tremendous, showing the primary conflict of the film, a battle on a new planet - presuming fighting for the all important Death Star plans - as the devious weapon of the Empire looms above.

The reel, however, is possibly more exciting. Striking a tone similar to the SDCC reel shown for The Force Awakens, it really underlines the gritty, on-the-ground feel that director Gareth Edwards is aiming for Rogue One, even if some people are just WAY too delighted to be in a Star War.

www.youtube.com/watch

Even with the reports of re-shoots, I think that Lucasfilm is determined to stick the landing here. These Star Wars Story films really are the future of the franchise, proving that we can go beyond the Skywalkers and see more of a universe far, far away. I hope for the best.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story hits theaters on December 16, 2016.

Concept Art from the BLADE RUNNER Sequel

Due in October 2017, I’m not quite sure what to think of the forthcoming Blade Runner sequel.

They have an incredible director lined up, in Sicario’s Denis Villeneuve. The cast is fantastic, pairing up Ryan Gossling as the lead with a returning Harrison Ford.

But some movies are so perfect, so fantastic, that I’m not sure that they need to be revisited.

This is going to be one of the movies I anticipate with fear and worry, but per Entertainment Weekly, the first two pieces of concept art feel right, at least.

The Blade Runner sequel, as yet untitled, hits theaters on October 6, 2017.

SDCC 2016: New Stills from WONDER WOMAN

OK you guys - it’s finally happening. I am getting optimistic about the slate of DC Comics films.

Yes, Batman v Superman was considered a mess by the general populace (although the extended cut was apparently better, which I will find out about, and review for myself this week), but word on Suicide Squad is positive, the set visits for Justice League sound like Zack Snyder’s fixing what he did wrong, and based on these new stills from Wonder Woman, the legendary female part of the DC Trinity is in good hands.

Released by Entertainment Weekly - because what isn’t these days - these stills from the making of the film show a level of color and brightness missing from Batman v Superman, and I have to admit, Gal Gadot is growing on me quite a bit in the role.

[gallery columns=“2” link=“file” ids=“21256,21257,21258,21259”]

The question is - when will we see the movie in action? I bet it will be next weekend in San Diego. Hopefully, us pleebs at home get a taste too. Officially. Not bootlegged.

Wonder Woman hits theaters on June 2, 2017.

SDCC 2016: Marvel Unveils DOCTOR STRANGE Concept Art!

Comic Con excitement is in the air, and one of the most anticipated panels hitting Hall H next weekend is the return of Marvel Studios to San Diego.

Set to discuss their next two big releases - November’s Doctor Strange and May’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 - Marvel has a fresh slate in front of them, not including any possible surprises.

We shared with you the new Guardians concept art earlier this week, but Entertainment Weekly also had an exclusive Strange reveal.

Doctor Strange has been kept (mostly) underwraps since its teaser trailer was revealed, but at San Diego Comic Con, more will be revealed - including the giveaway of an exclusive piece of concept art, seen below.

Created by artist Ryan Meinerding, the art will be available at Marvel’s booth, and really illustrates how commited to the look and feel of the comic character the film adaptation looks to be.

Doctor Strange hits theaters on November 4, 2016.

Ghostbusters (2016): A Review

Since its announcement, the long-awaited third Ghostbusters film has been the source of near infinite worry and debate. After decades of aiming to continue the story of Peter Venkman, Egon Spangler, Winston Zeddmore and Ray Stanz, a new generation of ghostbusting was born instead from a reboot - a new cast, directed by Bridesmaids’ Paul Feig. Since day one, many eyes have been on this project - and finally, the 2016 edition of Ghostbusters is here.

The movie starts with physisist Dr. Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wiig). Working at Columbia University and seeking tenure, a blast from the past comes into her life, as a book she wrote with her estranged friend Dr. Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy) leads the owner of a haunted mansion to ask for her assistance with a particularly aggresive poltergiest. Erin - having long tossed away her interest in the paranormal - is agast, as the ghost world is everything that physics is not, and she’s worried that the publication of the book (with the brilliant title Ghosts From Our Past) will cause her to lose her tenure.

Gilbert goes to visit Yates - now continuing her studies of the paranormal alongside gadget guru Jillian Holtzmann (Saturday Night Live’s Kate McKinnon) - and tries to get the book scrapped. Gilbert is not successful - but Yates and Holtzmann want to check out the haunted mansion. The story grows quickly from there, with a new group of ghost hunters defined (including MTA employee/New York history lover Patty Tolan - played by Leslie Jones), and a gigantic paranormal event discovered, triggered by creepy loner Rowan North (Neil Casey) - who is trying to make up for years of torment and disgust by taking over the Big Apple with countless angry spirits.

The movie which follows is a great time at the movies. Big action, big laughs, and pure blockbuster storytelling. Unfortunately - the same as with his prior hits Bridesmaids and Spy - a Paul Feig movie has been let down by its marketing, with Ghostbusters (or is it Ghostbusters: Answer the Call, as it’s titled in the end credits?) being a far greater film than advertised. The humor is filled with the great awkwardness and crass gags seen in Feig’s prior films (with a PG—13 slant), and the ghosts are incredibly freaky and well rendered. Ghostbusters in 2016 is simply a blast. Hell - they even find a way to make the Fallout Boy remake of the theme work well…in context. And only in context.

Performance wise, Wiig and McCarthy stabilize the film with new variants of their beloved film personas (pent-up awkwardness and brassy sass, respectively). The real strength of the film, however, lies in two supporting performances - McKinnon’s Holtzmann, and Thor himself - Chris Hemsworth - as the Ghostbusters hunky yet incredibly stupid receptionist, Kevin. Kevin is dumber than a box of rocks, but Hemsworth’s 100% commitment to the character makes him a comedic force of nature, full-stop. Every moment with him is full of laughs. But he is nothing - and I mean nothing - compared to the comedic tour-de-force of Kate McKinnon in this film. Her Holtzmann is the stuff that genre comedies are made of. She does more than chew the scenery, she absolutely annihilates it. She is routinely the most captivating, most funny, and most unhinged character in the film, and for Holtzmann alone, the entire reboot project is 100% worth it.

In terms of what doesn’t work, shockingly enough, it’s the moments where the 2016 Ghostbusters pays homage to the 1984 edition. Their heart is in the right place, but the callouts to the original film feel hamfisted, and the cameos (with 2 exceptions) call a little too much attention to themselves. But honestly, these do not derail the film - they just make me hope for a sequel where this new crew gets a story entirely their own. Additionally, the CG in the last act can get a little overdone and wonky. Not enough to ruin the film, but I was taken out of it a bit.

Fans wondered for decades when we’d see a new Ghostbusters - and when it arrived, they rung their hands with worry and issue. I’m pleased to say it was for naught. Ghostbusters has been given new life with a great cast, brilliant humor, and some absolutely incredible ghost effects. This is what the Summer movie season is all about.

Additional notes: my viewing of Ghostbusters was in 3D, which proved to actually be worth the upcharge for once. The movie frequently plays outside the frame, and some of the spookiness is upgraded by the extra depth of the film. Additionally, there are a number of extra scenes within the credits (including a moment that appears to have been removed from the film), and there is a post-credits scene. Stay in your seat, it’s all worth it.

Ghostbusters is in theaters now, and is available for pre-order on iTunes and Amazon.

First GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 Concept Art Revealed!

I have to give Marvel Studios credit - they have done a wonderful job of keeping Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 under-wraps.

The James Gunn written and directed sequel recently wrapped up filming, and is set to rock SDCC 2016 next weekend, but a first piece of concept art has been revealed (via Entertainment Weekly, of course), and we’ve got it for you below.

The art has a lot of things to talk about. Illustrated by go-to Marvel Studios concept artist Andy Park, we’ve got our first look at Mantis (played by Oldboy’s Pom Klementieff), and it looks like Yondu and Nebula have joined up with the gang.

But what will we all be excited about? TINY GROOT.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 hits theaters on May 5, 2017.

The Intoxicating Promise of 'La La Land', Via Teaser Trailer

2014’s Whiplash was one of the most dumbfoundingly strong debuts of a director in recent memory.

Beautifully shot, with an incredible cast, and an intense build-up - Whiplash garnered Oscar noms, and a well deserved win for Supporting Actor for JK Simmons.

More importantly, it put writer/director Damien Chazelle on the map.

In turn - when I heard he was moving onto his next film, I was waiting with bated breath for any details. When I found out that it was an original musical (!) starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone (!!), I was even more delighted.

Today, the teaser trailer for La La Land has hit, and it delivers on the promise such an incredible, raw, collection of talent would leave one expecting.

youtu.be/je0aAf2f8…

As beautiful as the cinematography in Whiplash was, Chazelle (working alongside cinematographer Linus Sandgren - known for American Hustle and Joy) looks to be doing the defining modern-day version of a Hollywood musical.

Scored by the original tune “City of Stars" (already available on iTunes, of course), the promise of this trailer is huge. Big names, fired-up director, incredible talent surrounding them (including JK Simmons, along with John Legend - yes that one - and Rosemarie DeWitt), this could be a very big movie this Christmas.

At the very least, the first vinyl-esq poster is lovely.

Now, if you excuse me, I’ve got a tune to whistle until it leaves my head.

La La Land hits theaters on December 6, 2016.

Swiss Army Man (2016): A Review

From its premise, no one would blame you from dismissing Swiss Army Man.

We enter the story in media res. Hank (Paul Dano), our protagonist, has been stranded on a island in the Pacific. He’s out of food and hope. So he decides to end his life by hanging.

As he stands with his feet upon a cooler, his neck in a makeshift noose, he notices a body washed upon shore. He rushes to the body. The body, belonging to Manny (Daniel Radcliffe) appears to be dead. A moment of hope turned into yet another loss for Hank. And then, that body begins to fart. A lot.

…so much so that Hank can ride Manny to civilization, powered purely by flatuence.

That’s where we hit our credits and the adventure truly begins, a surreal combination of Weekend at Bernie’s and the Nintendo classic A Boy and His Blob. The results? One of the best films of the year.

Swiss Army Man is a movie about super-powered farts, the importance of poop, and boners that double as compasses. But at the same time, the movie is about love, life, sadness, relationships, the things we do when we’re alone, and how our deepest, darkest, saddest, weirdest thoughts define us as humans. It’s life affirming and completely stupid. It’s arguably the most original thing I’ve ever seen on film.

Written and directed by DANIELS (the name for the collective of Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, best known for the video for Lil’ John’s “Turn Down for What"), Swiss Army Man is a surreal and dream-like film. Beautifully shot by cinematographer Larkin Seiple (Cop Car), the movie even has a musical vibe, with little songs hummed - or completely sang - by the cast turning into the score, a driving mixture of chants and instrumentation by Andy Hull and Robert McDowell of indie-rock band Manchester Orchestra. The movie goes at an incredible pace, with brilliant montages, surreal imagery, and some of the most frank converstations about life, love and what it truly means to be human I’ve ever seen on film. And it’s done with a probably insane man speaking to his best friend, a dead body.

I’ve honestly never seen a debut film so self assured, so smart, so brilliant and so odd. What DANIELS did here is remarkable, and now, hours removed from the theater, I keep replaying scenes and moments in my head. If you allow the weirdness to consume you, Swiss Army Man delivers.

Proper respect is to be paid to Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe. If they didn’t sell their roles well enough, the entire film would fall apart. Yet, through his conversations with Manny, you understand how Hank ended up on that island. You understand what his life was. And with Radcliffe in particular, he makes a literal corpse an incredibly alive character. Who would’ve thought in the Harry Potter years that his work would be so odd and so captivating?

Every time I go to the movies, even with the trailers I watch and the stories I read, I look to be amazed, surprised and delighted. Swiss Army Man did that and more. Simply put, Swiss Army Man is why I go see movies. Highest possible recommendation.

Swiss Army Man is in theaters now, and is available for pre-order on iTunes.

'Wreck-It Ralph' To Get A Sequel In March 2018

Announced today on Disney’s Facebook page, via a Facebook Live video, 2012’s Wreck-It Ralph will be getting a much-anticipated sequel in 2018.

John C. Reilly (Step Brothers) will return as the titular video-game villain with a heroic heart, alongside Sarah Silverman’s Vanellope Von Schweetz.

Co-directed by Wreck-It Ralph director Rich Moore and Zootopia writer Phil Johnson, the sequel (which does not have an official title yet) will take Ralph and friends out of the arcades and into the lands of the Internet, as noted in the first, official image for the film (below).

The first film was essentially a Toy Story for the video game world (I loved it) and expanding the scale and scope into the online world is pretty much perfect for a follow-up. Unlike many movies these days, the Ralph world is one which was begging to be explored further, and I cannot wait to see what Walt Disney Animation Studios has planned.

Now, can we get Big Hero 7, next?

The Untitled Wreck-It Ralph Sequel hits theaters on March 18, 2018.

Mondo Reveals SCOTT PILGRIM's Ramona Flowers!

Comics Alliance got themselves quite the collectible toy scoop today.

Last Summer, at San Diego Comic Con, pop-culture mavens Mondo showed off some new additions to their growing line of high-end toys.

One such figure? That of Ramona Flowers, as seen in (my favorite comic series ever) Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim series.

Ever since that reveal, Mondo and O’Malley alike have been quiet about the release of the toy.

We’ve seen Funko announce some movie-themed Pop! vinyl (I wasn’t impressed), but we never heard more about Mondo’s Ramona figurine.

…until today.

That’s right, the toy DOES exist, and it will be made available online for pre-order starting TOMORROW, JUNE 28 at 12PM CST (that’s 1PM EST).

Designed with help directly from Bryan Lee O’Malley (that’s his turn around sketch above), this is based on Ramona’s appearance in Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together, the fourth volume. The colors come straight from the color edition of the comic.

Ramona comes with both her trademark bat and hammer, and has translated from 2D to 3D perfectly.

There are two variants - the standard edition and the “Mondo Exclusive" edition. That “Mondo Exclusive” version is only available for pre-order for 72 hours, so you’ll want to act fast if you want that variant, which includes the Scott-in-Ramona’s-bag accessory. The standard will run you $50, with the Mondo exclusive running $55. I think I can swing the extra $5. You can pre-order it at MondoTees.com.

No indication of the exact release date, but until it hits, you can enjoy the full gallery below.

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Third 'Star Trek Beyond' Trailer Gets Help From Rihanna

Directed by Justin Lin, the third installment of the modern Star Trek franchise, titled Star Trek Beyond, is certainly taking risks in ways that the franchise has never done before.

This time, its the inclusion of a mainstream pop song.

Titled “Sledgehammer” (and not a Peter Gabriel cover), Rihanna provides the pretty great sounding new tune, presented alongside a new trailer for the film, as uploaded this morning by Paramount Pictures.

youtu.be/3MBXBMkcU…

The more I see of Star Trek Beyond, I like it. Justin Lin is bringing a strong, familial energy to the movie (as he did with the Fast & Furious franchise), and the movie is featuring bright and strong imagery, a nice contrast to the dark destruction porn we tend to see in theaters.

Hopefully, this is the cure to what has been an off Summer, and the excitement is delivered upon.

Star Trek Beyond hits theaters on July 22, 2016.

New Images from 'Rogue One' Revealed!

Despite the fact that the teaser trailer first premiered.

Entertainment Weekly has a big cover-story about Rogue One this week, including confirmation that Darth Vader will be in the film, a look at the cast, and a reveal that one of the cast members in the film comes from the cult-favorite Clone Wars cartoon. (They even talk about those pesky reshoots.)

Additionally, a full gallery of new images from the film has arrived, and we’ve got them embedded for you below.

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There’s not much more to grab plot wise from the images (besides the fact that we’re clearly spending some serious beach time in the movie), but I do love the weirdness of one of the Deathtroopers holding a toy Stormtrooper.

I have to be honest - learning more about this movie only makes me more excited. A blind-Force using Donnie Yen? An angry Empire middle manager? Felicity Jones in the TIE Fighter Pilot armor? I am in.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story directed by Godzilla’s Gareth Edwards hits theaters on December 16, 2016.

UPDATE! Entertainment Weekly revealed ANOTHER six images! Enjoy.

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You Should Probably Play This: HYPERBURNER

Like many people across the Internet, I was incredibly disappointed when No Man’s Sky was pushed back from its original release date (yesterday) to a date later this Summer (August 9).

In turn, I’ve got quite the space-exploration itch to scratch.  If the logo of this site isn’t any indication, I love spaceships, especially old school, “Enter the World of Wonder!” styled sci-fi.

While it doesn’t quite have the strange-man-in-a-strange-world feel, the new iOS title Hyperburner is helping put salve on the open wound while I wait for No Man’s Sky.

Hyperburner, designed by Patrick Cook, is a new game designed for mobile devices and PC that is a “fast-paced space flier”, it’s sort of a Temple Run, only with cool spaceships and a beautiful, clean and colorful visual style.

Here, maybe this trailer helps:

youtu.be/F0WBoinGY…

What that trailer does not show, is the really great control scheme.

Essentially, you keep your thumb on the screen, sliding to guide the ship - but if you remove your thumb, the game will automatically pause.

I’m a few levels in, and not only is this game super enjoyable, but the auto-pause feature is EXTREMELY helpful.

I can’t recommend this game enough for a taste of fast-paced space adventure. It’s exactly what a mobile title needs to be. And best of all? It’s In-App Purchase free. Spend your $2.99, and that’s it.

Hyperburner is available now on iOS, and will be available soon for Android and PC.

Finding Dory (2016): A Review

Is there anything harder to overcome than great expectations?

Is there anything harder than to have to follow in the footsteps of a beloved film, but more than that, to be the next installment of a legacy of beautiful filmmaking?

This is the issue that Finding Dory finds itself stuck in, before frame number one. A sequel to 2003’s beloved Finding Nemo and the seventeenth film by Pixar, the movie picks up one year after the events of Nemo, and focuses on the film’s most beloved character - Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), the blue fish with short-term memory loss. After Dory’s adventure with Marlin to find Nemo across the Ocean, Dory has settled in with life alongside her clownfish friends, but suddenly - some of her memories begin to return, of her parents Jenny and Charlie (voiced by Diane Keaton and Eugene Levy). In turn she becomes determined - she has to find her family.

On paper, the movie is an easy retread of the first. They once again travel across the sea on the backs of sea turtles, our heroes find themselves out of water, and in a man-made environment - even if this one is a more inspiring public aquarium in California - but the movie touches on a brilliant storyline, which, to my dissappointment, it quickly loses.

Pixar’s storytelling - besides drawing emotion from every audience that takes in their beautiful films - has always drawn in on using animation to discuss bigger topics. Stories about growing up in the Toy Story franchise, about love and loss in Up, how great things can come from unexpected places in Ratatoullie, the ways that humanity needs to develop and grow in Wall-E, and even the emotions that make us who we are in Inside Out; these are the tales that make their movies so much bigger, brighter and illuminating than their contemporaries in the world of animation. In Finding Dory, we see a glimpse of this: the difficulties of raising a special needs child. Dory’s short-term memory issues clearly are a space of difficulty for her parents, but they love her and believe in her. We see moments of their struggles in Dory’s scattered memories, and we feel the depth of their love later in the film - yet, I’m left feeling like an emotional catharsis is lost with the lack of connecting tissue.

That isn’t to say Finding Dory is a bad film, not by any means, but it’s this lack of illumination to a greater point that leaves this as one of the studio’s lesser films.

While the story may miss some beats, the animation doesn’t, with the Pixar team pushing their tech forward once more, mixing the character designs of the 2003 film, with bleeding edge water technology, photo realistic envronments, and yes, humans!

The returning voice cast does great work: DeGeneres is probably the most vulnerable she’s ever been on screen, even just as a fish, and it’s always great to hear Albert Brooks’ trademark style of humor in a movie theater. New characters bring great moments to the table as well, including It’s Always Sunny’s Kaitlin Olson as a whale shark named Destiny and Modern Family’s Ty Burrell as Bailey, but the real highlight is Ed O’Neill’s Hank, a grumpy “septopus". I could watch Hank hate his way through an adventure all day long.

The most interesting addition? Sigourney Weaver as Sigourney Weaver. Yes, she plays herself, as an interactive voice over played at the Marine Life Institute…which I think means that either the Nemo franchise takes place in our world, or there’s a weird Pixar version of Aliens out there. Either way, the Internet’s going to have a field day with this, and You Won’t Believe what someone thinks about it all when it’s posted about on BuzzFeed someday.

The animation remains beautiful, the sea life design enthralling, and there is an incredible action sequence at the end of the film - but without that glue, it just doesn’t hit the highs I’d expect. Finding Dory isn’t another Inside Out gem, but it’s a solid base hit, a’la Monsters University. If you’re in for another romp with your favorite fish, this is the movie for you: just don’t expect a masterpiece, just a great time at the movies.

Additional notes: There is a post-credits scene (wrapping up a loose end from Finding Nemo), and the pre-film short, Piper is the most goddamned adorable thing ever.

Finding Dory is in theaters now.

OH MY GOD! I Can't Wait For This PS4 'Spider-Man' Game!

This week has already been a huge one in the world of tech, with Apple’s WWDC 2016 kicking off alongside the beginning of the 2016 Electronic Entertainment Expo (or E3), and while I intend to do a wrap up of my highlights of both, I wanted to quickly write about the reveal that brought out my inner-child:

Sony’s announcement of a brand new Spider-Man game coming for PlayStation 4.

youtu.be/3R2uvJqWe…

Developed by Insomniac Games (best known for the Ratchet and Clank franchise), the game appears to be a third-person action-adventure title, with incredibly kinetic web-swinging and wacky fighting, as shown in this great reveal trailer.

I’ve gone on record many times about Spider-Man being my favorite fictional character, full-stop, but some of the Spider-Man games also stand as my favorites ever, including Neversoft’s Spider-Man for the PlayStation 1, the PlayStation 2-era Spider-Man 2 (based off of the movie), and even the classic Sega Genesis title.

I’m hoping that with the big name developer behind it, this will go in the lexicon of great superhero games, and I will be watching with bated breath, every reveal, screenshot and trailer.

Now…what about that weird costume?

Spider-Man is currently in development with no release date revealed. It is currently available for pre-order via Amazon.

X-Men: Apocalypse (2016): A Review

In 2011, Matthew Vaughn stepped into the X-Men franchise and gave it new life with the fun and incredibly enjoyable 1960’s set reboot, X-Men: First Class. 2014 brought the return of original X-Men Bryan Singer, melding the old and the new in the enjoyable 1970’s set X-Men: Days of Future Past. The story continues now in the 1980’s, with Singer again returning behind the camera for X-Men: Apocalypse, and unfortunately - the magic is completely lost.

That’s right - this installment may be the worst X-Men film yet, performing in quality below even X-Men Origins: Wolverine and X3: The Last Stand. And the worst part? It could’ve been great.

With this installment - the ninth X-Men film overall, if you include February’s Deadpool - we feature the long-awaited-by-fans film debut of legendary villain Apocalypse (Oscar Issac). And really, that’s your plot of the film. Apocalypse appears, and the X-Men have to punch him in the face. None of the nuance and interesting era integration seen in the last two films occurs here. Remember how First Class juxtaposed the birth of the Magneto/Xavier conflict with the dawn of the cold war? Or how Days of Future Past took the post-Vietnam paranoia and used it to justify the creation of the Sentinels? Yeah, not so much here. Apocalypse has risen, with his undefined power-set (besides being “ALL POWERFUL"), and we know it’s the 1980’s because the first two movies were in the 60’s and 70’s, the graphics on-screen say so, characters wear funny clothes, and there’s a mall trip. (And they’re even so bold as to use Return of the Jedi to make a joke about how bad third installments are. Not something you want to do when your own third edition is dragging the audience down.)

Sadly - this lack of justification besides “because" fills the 144 minute run-time of the film.

It’s simply put, one of the laziest large scale blockbusters I’ve seen in ages. And it’s all the more frustrating because of the potential there.

Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy have - previously - done amazing work as Magneto and Xavier respectively, but all their efforts to redefine the characters go to total waste here. They return to the basic versions of each character, loosing everything that made their versions great. Jennifer Lawrence practically sleepwalks through the film as Mystique, a shame, as much of the plot (what plot there is) is built around her growth as a character. Evan Peters’ Quicksilver, a highlight of Days of Future Past (outdoing Marvel’s interpretation of the character in Avengers: Age of Ultron) is completely wasted as well. Sure, he gets a highlight action sequence, but it just feels like a dull retread of the moment he had in the last film. Even our new cast members show potential that is never achieved: Tye Sheridan gets a great version of Cyclops’ origin, but not much else. Kodi Smit-McPhee looks and sounds wonderful as Nightcrawler, but his character’s use in this film is an absolute regression from X-Men 2. And Sophie Turner could be great as Jean Grey if she didn’t seem so removed and bored with the film.  You may note I say nothing about Olivia Munn’s Psylocke. That’s because there is nothing to say. She does little to nothing of note in the film, and literally just walks away.

Simply put - X-Men: Apocalypse is the greatest misuse of superhero storytelling and potential since The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

Just pull Bryan Singer away from the franchise. Never use these screenwriters again. Start fresh. Forget an Apocalypse, we need a new beginning.

X-Men: Apocalypse is in theaters now.

I'm on vacation.

Hey, I’m on vacation this week!

In turn, the site will be quiet for a few days. Might drop a movie review or two while I’m gone, but otherwise…quiet.

But I’ll be back by Monday, May 30th.

In the meantime, feel free to keep an eye on my Twitter. That’s where I usually share links and quick thoughts on nerdy stuff that grab my interest.

See you next week!

HOLD ON TO SOMETHING! It's The New 'Star Trek Beyond' Trailer!

Last night, as a part of a special fan event for Star Trek Beyond (designed to both excite fans for the forthcoming film, and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Star Trek property), Paramount Pictures released a brand-new trailer for the film, and we’ve got it for you below.

youtu.be/HzWIGFiGr…

The third film in the “reboot" series, the movie is directed by Fast & Furious’s Justin Lin, and for many - this trailer will be a welcome sight, after the first, not too terribly well-received teaser trailer.

A very cool new poster was released, too.

Personally, I’ve liked everything I’ve seen so far. This trailer definitely is a bit slower, and focuses on some of the keystones of the Trek franchise, such as the need to explore space, and the family that is the crew of the USS Enterprise.We also get some cool glimpses of the new lead baddie, played by Idris Elba under considerable makeup, plus a few comedy beats, to underline how much of a fun time this movie will be in the theaters.

All and all, I think that Star Trek Beyond will be the movie fans have been waiting for - both longtime Trek fans, and those like myself, who only joined the franchise once JJ Abrams took over in 2009.

In a cool note - they announced that the world premiere of the film will be at San Diego Comic-Con this year on July 20th, as Paramount goes all out with an outdoor IMAX screening, which will also feature live orchestration by Michael Giacchino and the San Diego Orchestra.

For the rest of us?

Star Trek Beyond hits theaters on July 22, 2016.

The Lonely Island Gives Us Conner4Real in the Second 'POPSTAR' Trailer

In what could be a sneaky, dark horse comedy of the Summer, The Lonely Island (Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer) have finally been given the opportunity to make their own film (2007’s Hot Rod was starring, but not written or directed by them), and we get this - the surreal and hilarious looking Popstar: Never Stop, Never Stopping.

youtu.be/mxoOpYuUu…

It seems to be positioning itself as a modern day This Is Spinal Tap, serving as a mockumentary about Conner4Real (Samberg) - a Justin Bieber-esq star who faces great success, then great failure.

This trailer (and the red-band one before it) is absolutely hilarious, and between The Lonely Island behind the scenes, and an awesome cast (including Bill Hader and Sarah Silverman) in front of the camera, I’m really rooting for Popstar to do well.

Popstar: Never Stop, Never Stopping hits theaters on June 3, 2016.

'Batman: Return to Arkham' Officially Announced

The worst kept secret in video gaming was finally confirmed today, as WB Games/Rocksteady have announced Batman: Return to Arkham, a single disc compilation of the PS3/Xbox 360-era Batman games, for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

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The game will include remastered versions of Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City, plus all prior DLC, but it will NOT include Batman: Arkham Origins.

Presumably left out because it was designed by a team other than Rocksteady, I feel like losing Arkham Origins is the biggest miss of the collection, as it was a great game that was at times, disabled by slower hardware.  Oh well.

The compilation will hit store shelves on July 26, 2016.

Batman: Return to Arkham is available for pre-order now.

A Second 'Ghostbusters' Trailer Answers The Call [Updated]

After a day that was full of Ghostbusters discussion on the web (if you don’t know, it’s really better that you don’t bother), Sony Pictures has unleashed a new trailer for this Summer’s Kristen Wiig-starring relaunch of the franchise.

twitter.com/Ghostbust…

Appearing first on Twitter, this is a far, far better trailer than the first one released - dropping the nostalgia of the original teaser (minus use of the iconic theme), and focusing more on the humor of the film.

I really like the use of Chris Hemsworth (Thor) as their goofy secretary, and the slow walking gag at the end of the trailer is an absolute 10.

All and all, this looks like a fun, silly flick with some very impressive ghost CGI.  I’m there.

Ghostbusters hits theaters on July 15, 2016.

EDIT: If you’d prefer a YouTube link, here you go!

EDIT 2: OK, the International version might be even better. I’m getting pretty optimistic about this.

twitter.com/SonyPictu…

DC Comics Unveils Yet Another New Logo

Stop me if you’ve heard this before:

DC Comics is relaunching all of their titles, and to celebrate it, the company is getting a new logo and branding.

Yes. This is pretty much exactly what they did in 2011 with “The New 52”, matched in 2012 with their current, odd, peeled-back logo.

Guess what! Everything old is new again!

Not only is their universe getting a relaunc…sorry, a “Rebirth” this month, but yes, a new logo is coming as well!

Making for DC’s 3rd logo since 2005, looking at this timeline of past logos, the new one is actually kind of a throwback, very similar to the 1972 variant:

That said - this feels like a weird re-branding move, especially when they have / have had two great logos already available, in the 1976 and 2005 variants.

Personally, my mind’s eye always thinks of the 1976 version, when I think of DC.  I don’t think this new logo is “bad”, it just feels unnecessary, as if corporately they’re trying to say “THOSE OTHER TIMES WE RELAUNCHED? FEH! THIS ONE IS FOR REAL!”

What say you, dear reader?

The new DC Comics logo will first be seen on the cover of DC Comics: Rebirth #1, due to hit shelves on May 25, 2016.

'Son of Zorn' Gets A First-Look Trailer

The other day, I was talking about how excited I was for Son of Zorn, the new show from the minds of Phil Lord and Chris Miller (The LEGO Movie, 21 Jump Street).

Well, in a good twist, Fox has now released a trailer for the show, and it looks like one of the most surreal things ever aired on broadcast television.

www.youtube.com/watch

Here’s the official synopsis, for those new to the show:

I have to say, this reminds me a lot of the classic early [adult swim] shows, like The Brak Show and Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law. I just hope it catches on - this feels like an idea that can get even more surreal over time.

Son of Zorn hits television screens during the 2016-2017 season on Fox.

It's Come To This: 'Transformers: The Last Knight' Announced Via Trailer

We’ve had movie trailers for years. We also had teasers, which hinted towards the proper trailer.

Then, with the internet, we started getting announcement trailers, telling us when a trailer was going to be released. We usually get those for the teasers AND the proper trailers.

Now…we have trailers to tell us that a movie will be filmed.

Transformers 5 starts filming soon, and to announce it, Paramount has released a trailer to tell us the name of the film. Yes, that’s all this does.

www.instagram.com/p/BFfCGhR…

At least this was on Instagram, where one would expect such short messages.

I’m not sure who the titular “Last Knight” is, but I do know that the new logo changes how “Transformers” is written. See?

This film continues the “second trilogy” of Transformers films, bringing back Mark Wahlberg in front of the camera, and Michael Bay behind it.

I couldn’t tell you a single thing about the plot of the last film - Age of Extinction - but I can tell you that it made $1.1 Billion at the box office. So expect even more of these films. Even if they’re all garbage.

Transformers: The Last Knight hits theaters on June 23, 2017.

This is a joke, right? 'Tetris' Movie Trilogy Coming To China

I thought it was weird enough when Missile Command and Centipede were getting their own films, but Deadline.com is now reporting probably the strangest video game to movie transition ever…

Tetris The Movie.

Really. And not just ONE movie made around the video game built around building lines with differently shaped blocks, an entire TRILOGY of movies.

This thing honestly reads like a parody of the current movie industry.

You have a trilogy green-lit just based on the notoriety of the property, you have a ridiculous budget ($80 million), and you have it being filmed in China and prominently featuring a Chinese cast, just to take advantage of the growing Chinese film market.

The only quote about the movie? Via producer Larry Kasanoff (best known for the Mortal Kombat films, and the infamously awful film Foodfight!, a movie which was only released because the company that insured it sued to be able to release it to recoup some money on their investment):

Look - I know we live in a world where The LEGO Movie blew us away and delivered something unexpected. But…in developing a property like Tetris, which has less than zero plot to build on, maybe you should give us an inkling of why exactly this film is the backbone of a trilogy?

Why do I feel like this is just one movie-based giant shell game, with Kasanoff’s group trying to just rip the Chinese investors off for serious cash?  Sounds like a doofy business I should get into.

Tetris The Movie will probably never hit theaters. But if it does, we will be here to make heads or tails of it.

Images From 'Rogue One: Official Visual Story Guide' Leak

Bless you, dear internet.

Thanks to you and your ever leaky ways, we have a whole bunch of new information about Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, in advance of its December debut in theaters.

Booksellers Edelweiss entered an entry for the film’s Visual Story Guide book, and it went live overnight, with a series of example pages, which - understandably - sent fans into a tizzy online.

We have a full gallery below (just in case the images are pulled), but it includes a full listing of our heroes and villains names (for example, Ben Mendelsohn’s white-caped villain is “Director Krennic”), images of new aliens, blueprints of new ships, and a basic confirmation that yes - Darth Vader has an impact on this film.

Check it out, and get excited!

[gallery ids=“21081,21082,21083,21084,21085,21086,21087,21088,21089,21090”]

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story hits theaters on December 16, 2016. Rogue One: A Visual Story Guide hits bookshelves on January 24, 2017, and can be pre-ordered here.

EDIT: Looks like the source images were removed from Edelweiss' site. Someone messed up! And now I await my C&D…

The Gender-Swapped 'Iron Man 3' That Could've Been

Note: this article discusses spoilers for Iron Man 3.

Much has been spoken of the recently-ended “civil war” between Marvel Studios and Marvel Entertainment.

Up until recently - Marvel Studios (the movie wing, lead by Kevin Feige) had to report to Marvel Entertainment (the comic company, lead by Issac Perlmutter).  This led to internal conflict - which had been recently removed, as Feige now reports directly to the heads at Disney.

There’s been much online about some of the changes over the years demanded by Perlmutter (he was not into female hero movies, for example), but for the first time that I’m aware of, one of Marvel’s filmmakers pointed directly to an issue where the Marvel Entertainment heads caused issues for Marvel Studios.

Remember Rebecca Hall’s awesome character in Iron Man 3? She was pretty rad, right? Then just sort of died. That wasn’t always the plan.

According to a new interview with writer/director Shane Black (promoting The Nice Guys), Black originally had bigger plans for Hall’s character - where she would be the real villain, as opposed to Guy Pierce’s Aldrich Killian.

Why did this happen? Concerns above Feige about toy sales. Yep. Toys.

I still hold that the end result was a pretty damn solid movie, but looking back at the plot for Iron Man 3, it would’ve been such a noir-esq move for the down-on-his-luck Stark to face near death due to a scorned woman (Rebecca Hall’s Maya Hansen), then fall face first into being saved by his one true love, “his girl Friday”, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow).

Sure, we got a version of that, but this alternate read is pure Shane Black. Alas.

WB Looking Into A 'Harley Quinn' Movie

I think after Batman v. Superman, Warner Bros are taking a long, hard look at what they have planned for the DC Comics Extended Universe, and looking to make some strong changes.

We heard last week about Booster Gold now getting a look for his own film. Now they’re doubling down on one of their best bets so far - Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn.

According to The Hollywood Reporter’s Borys Kit (awesome name), Warner Bros is liking what they’ve seen of Robbie’s Quinn from Suicide Squad, and wish to give her a solo movie of her own.

But it won’t just be a Harley Quinn movie, oh no! This will include many other of DC’s popular female characters - Batgirl and the Birds of Prey being mentioned in particular.

Apparently it’s a similar focus to the DC Super Hero Girls line, which is currently getting a very successful merchandise push, leaving empty shelves across the nation.

This continues WB/DC’s focus on their female heroes - in stark contrast to Marvel Studios. They just finished filming Wonder Woman for a 2017 release, making them the first of the two major comic book movie universes to have a female led film.

If Warner Bros can get Harley Quinn film out before Marvel’s Captain Marvel (set for 2019), that shows they have a focus on a sorely under-served part of the comic movie fandom, and I don’t think anyone expected DC to be the more progressive of the two.

More on this film as we have it.

Michael B. Jordan to Reteam with Ryan Coogler on 'Black Panther'

Remember how hyped we were coming out of Captain America: Civil War about the Black Panther movie?

I mean, we had reason enough to be excited before, with Ryan Coogler directing (after absolutely knocking Creed out of the park).  But then we had Chadwick Boseman show the world how awesome his version of T’Challa was throughout Civil War.

Hype was high. And then we found out this week that Luptia Nyong’o would be in the cast too.

And then today’s news, courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter

MICHAEL B. JORDAN IS JOINING THE CAST TOO!

Right now, we have no official word on his role, but after delivering an incredibly under-appreciated performance in Creed, having such a great track record with Coogler, and getting absolutely underserved by last Summer’s Fantastic Four, I am so excited to see what he does in this film.  Rumor is, he may be the lead villain.

EITHER WAY, THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT.

Black Panther hits theaters on February 2, 2018.

The All Female 'Ocean's Eleven' Is Coming, With J-Law In Tow

In some news that has me very very excited, Warner Bros is apparently moving forward with an all-female relaunch of the Ocean’s Eleven franchise.

Much like the all woman Expendables film, such a movie has been rumored for some time, but according to The Tracking Board, not only is the movie happening, but it will result in a bit of an Ocean’s-verse, as the film will connect to the 2001-2007 George Clooney fronted Ocean’s trilogy.

This has me incredibly excited, as two of those films are some of my favorites ever, and the idea of the franchise getting a shot in the arm has me even more delighted.

Sayeth The Tracking Board, the film will be directed by The Hunger Games director Gary Ross, and will not only feature Sandra Bullock as Danny Ocean’s sister, but will be getting the major star power of Jennifer Lawrence.

What can I say - I’m totally, completely in. Now to see if the internet revolts against it a’la this Summer’s Ghostbusters relaunch!

'Godzilla 2' Loses Gareth Edwards

Well, this is a bummer.

No sooner than Warner Bros gives Godzilla 2 a new release date, which I assumed at the time was to give its director a rest after finishing Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, they’re looking for a new director.

That’s right - Gareth Edwards has left the project, looking to work on a smaller film, after the stress of two back-to-back blockbusters.

It’s a shame, as I thought Edwards brought an incredible sense of scale and realism to the project (as found in his film Monsters), but I’m still excited to see what he is working on solo.

Godzilla 2, no matter who directs it, is scheduled for a March 22, 2019 release.

Ben Affleck Is 'The Accountant'

I’m not sure how this movie completely missed my radar, but it looks like this Fall, Ben Affleck is going to redeem his Batman v. Superman sins as The Accountant.

Here’s the synopsis, and the official trailer, via Warner Bros:

www.youtube.com/watch

Look, Affleck, Anna Kendrick, and JK Simmons were more than enough reason for me to want to see this.  Add a unique and interesting premise, and some Kid-A-era Radiohead, and I am frothing at the mouth for this film.

The Accountant hits theaters on October 14, 2016.

'Pacific Rim 2' Gets A Writer Who's Been To 'Jurassic World'

I can’t believe it - Pacific Rim 2 is really, actually happening.

While the road to the big screen for a sequel to the Guillermo del Toro robots vs. monsters modern classic has been a bumpy one, things started to look pretty, pretty good for the sequel, once Daredevil show-runner Steven DeKnight jumped on as director (with del Toro producing).

Now, a writer has been chosen to make it come to life.

Jurassic World scribe Derek Connolly has signed on to pen the picture.  Certainly, his experience writing giant dinosaurs fighting has prepared him to enter the realm of kaiju and jagers. Connolly has also written the script for Jurassic World 2 and the forthcoming King Kong reboot, Kong: Skull Island, so clearly, he is right for the role!

I guess I’m just sad that Guillermo del Toro will not be actively controlling the chaos this time around. Doesn’t mean it will be bad - just means it will be different.

Pacific Rim 2 does not have a set release date at this time, but I’ll update you as I learn more.

'Supergirl' To Return For Season 2...

You guys, I have to admit. I’ve been a bit of a bad nerd.

While I gave both Arrow and Gotham a chance (and they’ve done nothing for me), I’ve been hearing universally great things about The Flash and Supergirl, especially their crossover earlier this year.

Well, good news to those of you who are fans of Supergirl - the Melissa Benoist starring show will be returning for a second season!

There’s just one catch, however…it’s changing networks.  The series will be leaving its current home of CBS, and joining the youth-focused roster of The CW. No word on any changes to the show, but many are wondering if the series budget will be cut,

Supergirl joins a very comic book heavy network, now on the same channel as The Flash, Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow, and the Vertigo series adaptation iZombie.

Now I just hope the first season shows up on Hulu or Netflix, so I can see what all the hype is about!

I Can't Wait for 'Son of Zorn'

Phil Lord and Chris Miller continue to create projects out of insane ideas. Clone High, 21 Jump Street, The LEGO Movie - they take things that don’t make sense on paper, and knock it out of the park.

This fall’s Son of Zorn is no different.

The high concept is basically as follows - what if He-Man, the cartoon character, had a normal, regular flesh and blood family?  And he was kinda screwing up as the head of the household?

Yeah - they’re seeing that ALL the way through on this show, which is an animation, live-action hybrid, starring Jason Sudeikis as the aforementioned Son of Zorn.

Lord and Miller did an interview with Entertainment Weekly about it, which included some fresh images. Here’s an except:

You should read the full article. I cannot wait for this show!

Son of Zorn is set to debut on Fox in the 2016-2017 Television Season.

Ang Lee's 'Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk' Is Revealed In This First Trailer

Ang Lee is an absolutely incredible director. But I’m a little worried about him.

Having made some amazing films, including Life of Pi, Brokeback Mountain and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, his is a name that inspires interest and provides a filmmaker’s gravitas.

That said - the trailer for his next film, the major holiday release Billy Lynn’s Halftime Walk has hit, and it looks (to me, at least) like pure, unabashed Oscar bait.

Based on the novel by Ben Fountain, the story juxtaposes the war-time efforts of the titular Billy Lynn (the debuting Joe Alwyn) alongside a halftime appearance at a football game, designed to honor the soldiers and drum up support for the war.

youtu.be/bEG2uamc3…

The footage seen here is visually, very strong, but does not feel any different from any other major, schmaltzy “soldier comes home” film, even with a cast including names such as Kristen Stewart, Steve Martin and Vin Diesel.

Really, the only appeal of the film is the remarkable techniques used by Lee, filming in 4K, 120 frame per second, in 3D.

Sure, that’s moving the artform forward, but the number of theaters that will be able to exhibit the film in that format are minimal. And I’m sure there are countless families wanting to shell out the IMAX 3D costs for a sad story of a soldier returning home.

Who is this movie really for? To indulge Ang Lee’s need to use the latest tech, a’la Peter Jackson or George Lucas? Or to give Sony Pictures a big Oscar hope?

Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk hits theaters on November 11, 2016 - and right now, you can count me out.

'Assassin's Creed' Gets Its First Trailer!

20th Century Fox, via Jimmy Kimmel Live! has officially pulled back the hood on one of the most anticipated movies of the Christmas season - Assassin’s Creed!

Based on the hugely popular game from UbiSoft, the movie follows a new character - Callum Lynch - who, using futuristic technology, is able to experience the memories of his long lost ancestor, an assassin in 15th Century Spain.

www.youtube.com/watch

This has the potential to be the first truly great video game movie adaptation, and I’m incredibly excited to see Michael Fassbender be the lead for a major franchise, such as this one. The trailer itself looks visually arresting, and a great translation of the popular game series (even if I haven’t played one since Assassin’s Creed II.) My only qualm is the odd use of Kanye West in the trailer.

Assassin’s Creed re-teams Fassbender with Marion Cotillard (The Dark Knight Rises) and director Justin Kurrzel, who he worked with on last year’s Macbeth remake.

In addition to the trailer above, an official poster for the film has been released, featured below.

Assassin’s Creed hits theaters on December 21, 2016.

Apple To Kill iTunes Music? What Goes Next?

Today, a report from Digital Music News has many in the music world raising an eyebrow and wondering about their future.

What has everyone so nervous? The end may be near for the iTunes Music Store.

According to the report - per to those nebulous sources “with close and active business relationships with Apple" - the music download business is going the way of the dinosaur.

The question is not “if" they will retire the music downloads store in lieu of their Apple Music streaming business, but when. The rumors are either an aggressive two year plan to kill off iTunes music sales, or a more lax 3-to—4 year plan of attrition.

It’s a bold plan, one that should worry music labels both large and small. But at the same time - is it that crazy of a plan?

twitter.com/tedleo/st…

Apple has always been a company that aims to go where the puck will be, not where the puck is. See their killing of the DVD drive. See MacBook having only one USB 3.0 port. They’re going to where the world seems to be heading - streaming, and streaming alone. Heck, Warner Music just claimed that they’re officially making more from streaming then they do from downloads.

The question is - once the music store dies, will all iTunes media follow? Not just music, but movies, tv, and books?

Think about it - how far are we, truly, from a united source for all music, video, books, etc. $10 for music, maybe another $15 for movies, $10-$15 for books?

Right now, every video content provider is trying to have their own streaming program. HBO, Starz, AMC, Showtime, Seeso, etc. - they’re all aiming to grab increasingly smaller pieces of a very large pie. But at some point, the world will want to get more for their money. And someone, or someones, will have to step in to be the Spotify or Apple Music of that type of content.

The billion dollar question is - who is going to be the one to step ahead of the curve? And who will be caught in the cold?

It’s a big transition, one that will effect consumers and content creators alike - I just hope we end up in a space that is great for both.

Update: Apple says the story is “not true”. I still feel it’s inevitable, but I guess they aren’t planning their escape yet.

Funko Unveils 'Scott Pilgrim' Pop! Vinyls

Earlier today, Funko announced the latest addition to their incredibly popular Pop! Vinyl figure lineScott Pilgrim vs. the World.

Based on the Edgar Wright-directed film (and not the Bryan Lee O’Malley comic series), we’ll be seeing figures of Michael Cera’s Scott Pilgrim, Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s Ramona Flowers, and Ellen Wong’s Knives Chau.

The designs are accurate to the movie - although I question the choice of Scott’s outfit, as I think of him more in his Plumtree or Smashing Pumpkin’s shirt (or some variant thereof), than the button-down from the party where he meets Ramona. The drawing of Ramona clutched in his little hand is a nice touch, though.

[gallery ids=“21018,21017,21016”]

On paper, these figures should be an absolute layup for me. I have quite a few Pop! Vinyl figures, and I absolutely love Scott Pilgrim (having recently dubbed it my favorite comic movie of all time on the Super Art Fight podcast).

…yet, they leave me cold. Something feels off about them for me.

Maybe I’ll like them more when I see them in person, but until then, I’ll be lusting over Mondo’s Ramona Flowers figure they unveiled at San Diego Comic Con last year, with no further details announced at this time.

twitter.com/radiomaru…

The Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Pop! Vinyl figures are set for a June 2016 release.

Mouse House Design: A Requiem for 'Disney Infinity'

Announced in 2013, Disney attempted to bridge the gap of their multitude of fandoms and the world of video games with one defining title: Disney Infinity.

Over three sequels, Disney Interactive looked to meld the worlds of Disney animation and live-action, Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm’s Star Wars into one cohesive gaming universe.

Following in the footsteps of the then white-hot Skylanders franchise, the game would be an entry in the toys-to-life genre - pairing excited kids wants to play the “whole game” with an infinite (heh) series of figurines, each new figure purchase unlocking new levels and playable characters within the games - while also looking pretty solid on your shelf.

They augmented the crass buy-in with Little Big Planet/Mario Maker styled level creation tools, which never seemed to really catch on, allowing players of all-ages to create their own levels to share with an online community.

On paper - it was an obvious cash cow. Video games and action figures have always done well for Disney. But apparently, they did not jump on the bandwagon soon enough, it was announced yesterday that the Disney Infinity project was being cancelled, with Disney Interactive closing its doors and Disney getting out of the console video game business entirely.

Maybe it says something about the end of the toys-to-life craze, as Disney Infinity figures have started to warm shelves alongside LEGO Dimensions and Skylanders sets.

Perhaps its a sign that cash-in games for the console world are dying off, with the industry focusing only on blockbuster, triple-A titles.

But what should be appreciated as we look back on Disney Infinity is how it did the impossible - it took disparate characters from countless popular universes, and combined them effortlessly into one beautiful, and pleasing visual style.

For me, that’s what made the game so appealing. That’s what made the figures so tempting. Each design looked wonderful, streamlining countless characters from pop-culture into one unified and clean design language.

Looking back, they really covered a bold variety of Disney properties. Sure, some made sense - like the well-timed releases of characters from The Force Awakens or The Lone Ranger - but who ever expected to see figures of Iron Fist or the cast of TRON: Legacy?

I’ve included a gallery below of some of my favorite designs. I wish I knew all the artist(s) to credit (it seems that Ian Jacobs is one of them), but as this game leaves us - it’s the look that I will remember. I hope they get amazing work somewhere else soon.

[gallery ids=“21011,20993,20994,20995,20996,20997,20998,20999,21012,21001,21002,21003,21004,21005,21006,21007,21008,21009”]

'Godzilla 2' Delayed, 'Godzilla vs. King Kong' Dated

With Rogue One: A Star Wars Story looking so good, you knew there had to be a setback. And that setback is a delay of Godzilla 2, the sequel to director Gareth Edwards' tremendous reinvention of the terrible thunderlizard for the 21st century.

Edwards' sequel - which is sure to be re-titled from Godzilla 2  - is now set for a March 22, 2019 release, 9 months after its original June 2018 release date.

The bonus? We won’t have to wait long to see the Big G collide with King Kong, as Godzilla vs. Kong (featuring the Kong from 2017’s Kong: Skull Island) is now set for May 29, 2020.

I really dug Godzilla when it came out, but I have to admit - I did not expect for it to kick off a full “giant monster” universe at Warner Bros.

The real shame? Warner Bros losing Pacific Rim 2 to Universal, meaning it is unlikely that we’ll ever see the Jaegers collide with these classic icons.

Guess that clash will just have to remain the battle of my dreams.

DC's 'Booster Gold' Getting His Own Movie?

Hey, not everything that comes out of the current run of the DC Comics films may be awful!

Perhaps it’s a direct response to the world’s reaction to Zack Snyder’s Batman v. Superman, but rumor now is that fun-loving DC Comics time traveler Booster Gold may be getting a solo movie.

The report comes from Devin Faraci at Birth. Movies. Death., who is once again putting himself in the cross-hairs of DC Comics movie fans by sharing:

Zack Stentz, who has credits on movies like Thor, the new Power Rangers and Agent Cody Banks, is working on the script right now. I had heard that Greg Berlanti, the guy who runs the (tonally correct) DC TVverse is producing, and a recent appearance by Stentz on the “Fatman on Batman” podcast bears this out.

You can read more of the details there, which comes from (of all sources) a Kevin Smith podcast.

This isn’t the first time a Booster Gold movie has been rumored - last year, word was that Arrow/The Flash producer Greg Berlanti was trying to work out a buddy-cop movie with Booster Gold and his standard counterpart Blue Beetle - but hopefully, the sun will shine on this opportunity, and the DC Movie Universe (or DC Extended Universe, as they’re now calling it) will start to shine bright.

What can I say? I really want both major comic universes to start shining bright on the big screen.

More as we have it.

Netflix's 'VOLTRON' Reboot Is Looking Good

Earlier today, Dreamworks released to the web the proper trailer for their reboot of the classic 80’s cartoon Voltron: Defender of the Universe.

Launching on Netflix this June, the new series is titled Voltron: Legendary Defender, and looks to be a well-done relaunch of the beloved series, which featured a team of teens piloting giant lion robots that (of course) can combine into one larger robot.

www.youtube.com/watch

This really looks great. The animation looks clean (and does not appear to be taking shortcuts, unlike say…the Batman: Killing Joke direct-to-video release), the showrunners come from modern-classics Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, and the voice cast is full of popular nerd talent, including The Walking Dead’s Steven Yeun, Flight of the Conchords' Rhys Darby, and even A Different World’s Cree Summer! It’s hard to argue against the new Voltron’s chances of success.

At the very least, this looks like a way better classic cartoon relaunch than Amazon’s Thunderbirds redux.

Now, the most important question as a grown adult who still loves giant robots, and fondly remembers hours spent playing with a giant Lion Force Voltron: where are the new toys?

Voltron: Legendary Defender hits Netflix on June 10, 2016 - with all 13 episodes dropping at once, perfect for binge-watching.

Radiohead - 'Daydreaming', New Album May 8, 2016

Remember on Tuesday when Radiohead delivered a new single to the world with “Burn the Witch”? They just did it again.

twitter.com/radiohead…

With just one tweet (and an Instagram tease), they’ve released yet another new song and video (directed by auteur Paul Thomas Anderson), titled “Daydreaming”.

It’s a beautiful song, matched with a visually arresting video. Just check it out already.

www.youtube.com/watch

We still don’t know the name of the album, but the tweet and video deliver the news that it arrives digitally on Sunday, May 8th at 7pm BST.

I cannot wait.

Captain America: Civil War (2016): A Review

Captain America: Civil War makes the impossible possible.

Over it’s 147 minute runtime, directors The Russo Brothers along with screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, manage to produce a film that pays off thirteen films of build-up from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, kick off “Phase 3" with a bang, and with characters throughout the world of the Avengers abound…make it a movie that is focused on Captain America.

Moments large and small from the Iron Man trilogy, the prior Captain America flicks, and the two Avengers films come to light as the superheroes we’ve come to know and love over the last eight years collide - but how do they come to blows?

While these heroes have always seemed to rub each other the wrong way (usually with hilariously sarcastic results), the story here is a very loose adaptation of Marvel’s Civil War comic series from 2006.

The Avengers have been the world’s protectors since 2012’s The Avengers - with mixed results. Yes, they saved the day in the end, but with every victory has come collateral damage. Between The Battle For New York (from the first Avengers film), the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D. (as seen in the prior Captain America installment, The Winter Solider), the destruction in Sokovia (last year’s Age of Ultron), and a mission gone wrong in Lagos (seen in the movie’s wonderful, Mission: Impossible-esq opening sequence), the United Nations want the Avengers to stop acting of their own accord, and instead submit to a document called, appropriately, the Sokovia Accords. This would turn the Avengers from an independent group of do-gooders into the weapon of the United Nations. And from there grows the split.

As we’ve seen in Iron Man 3 and Age of Ultron, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) has grown from being the first hero of the modern age to a man filled with worry and regret. He wishes to give in to the greater ambition. On the other side is Steve Rogers (Chris Evans). While America’s living, breathing icon - the events of The Winter Soldier have changed his outlook on the trustworthiness of the government, and whether or not any group should have such absolute authority. It’s a conflict that cuts to the core of our heroes, and will cut to the core of audiences. And smartly - the film never really picks a side. This will be something that fans will debate as much as our heroes do. And they do like to debate.

There’s no need to worry, action fans - the debates may start around a conference table, but they do not end there. Civil War is filled with some incredible action sequences, including stunning hand-to-hand combat, an insane chase sequence, and the long-awaited clash of “Team Iron Man" (Iron Man, War Machine, Black Widow, Spider-Man, Black Panther and Vision) and “Team Captain America" (Captain America, The Winter Solider, Falcon Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, and Ant Man) being one of the most amazing superhero action sequences ever rendered to film - finally giving the Battle for New York a run for its money. The only sequence that may outclass it? An emotionally wrenching finale, mixing one of the bleakest endings from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with some of the strongest personal stakes punctuating every punch with extra weight and feeling.

Before you start to worry - Civil War IS a film with significant weight, but the character moments that have always made the Marvel Studios films a joy to watch remain here. There are hilarious character moments - including some pairings fans will be going on about for some time, and there’s even a new romance or two in the air.

How do they manage to make this work? It certainly is assisted by the fantastic casting done to this point. We know this cast. We love this cast. We don’t want to see them hurt - or hurt each other - but we cannot take our eyes off the screen. Some how, even with the focus on Chris Evans’ Captain America, EVERY character gets a moment to shine, with Paul Rudd’s Ant Man finally playing with the big leagues, and Robert Downey Jr. doing possibly his best work as an older, wiser Tony Stark. He’s not the enfant terrible of 2008’s Iron Man anymore. And even with that - three NEW characters are added to the mix, and somehow manage to shine just as bright.

Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther is a character unlike any seen in the MCU to date. His royal past shines, as he carries himself with style and grace, and he adds tremendous gravitas to what could be a thankless role in others hands. That said - most audiences will be coming out of the theater raving about Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. I didn’t think it was possible, but Holland manages to make himself known as the PERFECT Peter Parker AND the PERFECT Spider-Man. Like I said, the impossible is possible now. You will be absolutely giddy for Spider-Man: Homecoming by the time the credits role. I also need to call out the work of Daniel BrÁ¼hl’s Zemo. His version of Zemo has been under the radar throughout the promotion of this film, but goes places no Marvel Studios villain has before - and while not the Zemo we know from comics - is incredibly effective and heartbreaking.

This time last year, fans were unsure of the end of Phase 2 for Marvel. Age of Ultron didn’t deliver exactly what we wanted - but as the Civil War has broken out, Phase 3 begins with a seismic shift of the Marvel Cinematic Universe we knew - and with an Infinity War on the horizon, I find myself aching for the next installment.

Captain America: Civil War is an excellent story, well told, that delivers for the fans and leaves you breathless for the next installment.

Congratulations, Marvel Studios. Congratulations, Russo Brothers. You’ve reached the next step of comic book movies - I’m locked in as I need to know where we go next, and that next adventure cannot come soon enough.

KICKSTART THIS: The Creators, Volume 1

What if your drawings came to life?

For many of us - especially those in Super Art Fight - the result would be countless, sentient dicks.

But for some of us, we’d see our dreams come true, or amazing unreal ideas become nightmarishly real.

In the webcomic The Creators, we see a bit of both, as a group of young people discover their imaginations can come to life - with both positive and negative consequences.

The Creators has been published by Baltimore’s Michael Bracco since 2012 in print form, and 2014 online at CreatorsComic.com. Bracco is currently kickstarting a collected volume of the series - a whopping 200+ page book, and honestly - it’s how the comic was meant to be read.

The Kickstarter started on Sunday, and is aiming for a $5000 goal (just over 1/5th of the way there), and I think if you read this, you’d dig it.

You have until June 5, 2016 to make it happen. So make with the cash!

Radiohead - 'Burn The Witch'

Much has been made across the Internet these past few days about Radiohead.

They’re sending creepy flyers in the mail. They’re deleting their internet presence. They’re posting teaser clips on Instagram. That’s done now.

Posted at 11am EDT today, we have the first new Radiohead song since 2011 (unless you count their unused “SPECTRE" theme) - “Burn the Witch".

www.youtube.com/watch

Accompanied by an unsettling claymation video set in a very creepy village, “Burn the Witch" is an incredible sounding song, mixing strings and a syncopated beat. They’re pushing music forward again.

Now…where’s the album this is on? The single goes on sale at Midnight - artwork below - but I want a new full release guys!

A “low-flying panic attack" indeed.

My Personal Summer 2016 Movie Guide

While some would argue that the Summer movie season is a thing of the past (the massive releases of Deadpool and Batman v. Superman in February and March, respectively, certainly point to it), I’m a purist. I love the Summer movie season.

From May to August, cineplexes are filled with big time movies, and larger-than-the-norm audiences to see them. With the season starting this week with the release of Captain America: Civil War, I wanted to take a moment to list out my picks for the Summer 2016 movie season.

Since visuals do more than words, all links go to their respective trailers.

Limited releases may result in different roll-outs in your region, and some may be available on VOD. Check your favorite theaters and providers.

So, what looks good to you, dear readers? What will you be seeing this Summer? I miss anything good? Sound off in the comments.

Keanu (2016): A Review

Think of your favorite comedies of all time.

What’s the one thing they’re missing? What’s the one thing that could make them better?

If you answered: an adorable kitten, Keanu is the film for you.

The first theatrical release from comedy duo Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele - who are best known for their Comedy Central show Key & Peele - Keanu focuses on the things that Key & Peele are best at: hilarious observations on the modern state of race and masculinity, but this time…they added a kitty!

I don’t phrase it that way to demean what they do - but seriously, this cat (or cats, there were apparently seven of them) is one of the cutest creatures ever rendered on film. If you don’t fall in love with it, you may be completely dead inside.

The movie focuses on two cousins, Rell (Peele) and Clarence (Key). Rell has recently been dumped, and Clarence - who is a straight laced family man - is looking to come to his rescue. But Rell finds his salvation at his doorstep, in a kitten he names Keanu. The problem for Rell? Keanu has a history in the drug trade. Once owned by the leader of a drug cartel, Keanu is catnapped, and it’s up to Clarence and Rell to integrate themselves in the “gangsta" world to find out what happened to Keanu, and bring him back home.

The humor comes from the fish-out-of-water scenario for Rell and Clarence. Neither grew up particularly “hard" (in fact, they spend moments boasting to each other about the guys that beat them up in school), but they have to fake-it-until they make it.

The crime world they encounter is full of surreal characters - Rell’s weed dealer Hulka (a hilarious Will Forte), leader of the “Blips" (neither Blood NOR Crip) Cheddar (a game Method Man), a rag-tag bunch of gang members, and two assassins known as the Allentown Boys all come into play over the course of the film. But if the movie has a problem, it is this: it drags.

Running what should be a brisk 98 minutes, the script (by Peele and Alex Rubens) seems to be stretched a bit thin. Gags seem to go on for a beat too long, but stick the landing, making me wonder if there’s a lean, mean 89 minute version within the film. That said - it’s the chemistry and natural humor of the leads which truly make Keanu worth seeing. They carry the bumpier moments, and under the deft direction of Peter Atencio (who also directed every episode of Key & Peele), the potential for future amazing work is there. It’s just a bummer that what could have been a great film is rendered merely good due to these slower moments.

Keanu isn’t a perfect comedy, but is a great first-shot for the hopefully continued theatrical career of the duo Key & Peele. I can say with their great Comedy Central show behind them, and the big screen ahead of them, their opportunity is now - I just hope for a greater showing next time.

But seriously: that goddamn CAT! I WANNA SNUGGLE IT!

Green Room (2016): A Review

Imagine if you will - you’re a part of a DIY punk rock band. You’re traveling the United States, just trying to make ends meet. The crowds are hostile, the money is awful, but you’re trying to make your dream happen.

And then, at a sketchy show, thousands of miles away from home, you witness a murder. And it only gets worse from there.

That’s the nightmare scenario we’re placed in with writer/director Jeremy Saulnier’s latest film, Green Room, a hard nosed and brutal thriller - which may also be one of 2016’s best.

Green Room puts us in the shoes of Washington DC-based punk rock band The Ain’t Rights, as they are trying to make their way through an ill-fated Pacific Northwest tour.

They siphon gas from cars to keep their van on the road. They do interviews with college radio stations. They don’t keep a social media presence, because it’s not punk enough. They play crummy shows in crummy Mexican restaurants, when their DIY venues fall through.

But then an offer comes through. $350 cash. The catch? It’s a neo-Nazi skinhead club in the middle of the Oregon woods. Weirdly enough, that’s not a stretch - it’s just one of the truer details found within the film. Punk rock has always had a history with the world of skinheads (see Henry Rollins’ Black Flag memoir Get In the Van for some particularly harsh stories), but never before has the relationship been so violent and brutal as it is portrayed here.

After they play their set - including a rage-inducing Dead Kennedys cover - The Ain’t Rights are being rushed out of the venue. One of their members, Sam, forgot her phone. Another member of the band, Pat, runs back into the green room to get it. Within there, a girl has been stabbed - and chaos ensues.

I can’t describe more of the plot than that - but what Jeremy Saulnier has planned for audiences is an exciting, thrilling, and at times excruciating tale. Many other films have done the “just survive through this night" trope before, but the somewhat underserved setting of a punk rock club gives the movie a modern artistic edge. It certainly helps that I’ve played my share of rock venues in my other life, as I can attest to the accuracy of the arrangement of the club…although I’ve never had a run in with skinheads, thankfully.

The movie is relentless for its 95 minute runtime. Once the terror begins, the film does not let up, with some absolutely shocking moments of violence. But yet, at no point does the movie feel like it is careless or exploitative. The gore is a natural end result of the situations found - it’s not a film of Hostel-esq gore porn.

Perhaps this is helped by the fantastic performances. Our lead is Star Trek’s Anton Yelchin, as The Ain’t Rights quiet, and somewhat sappy artistic head. Arrested Development fans will be excited to see Alia Shawkat in an appropriate role, and I was shocked to see Scott Pilgrim vs. The World’s Mark Webber resurface. Pre-existing fans of Jeremy Saulnier will be happy to see Blue Ruin“s lead, Macon Blair, return as the front of house lead for the music venue, Gabriel, but the true gravitas comes from Patrick Stewart, as the villainous Darcy, head of the local skinheads. He does subtle, but devious work on screen, and absolutely rules the film.

Green Room is not a film for the squeamish, but for those who can stomach the gore, it’s an exciting and intense thriller, that I will be raving about for ages to come. Highest possible recommendation.

What Are You Paying for Internet Content?

Let’s face it, we’re in a new age of consuming and enjoying media, and the Internet has given us a whole multitude of ways to enjoy content.

And that includes LEGAL ways - especially since I don’t pirate anymore.

But with it has come a whole bunch of different bills that we did not have before.

Between VOD services, SASS software, and other miscellany, we may be cutting the cord, but we’re also tied into different services in ways we weren’t before.

In turn, I thought it’d be interesting - in the sense of transparency, and even for my own understanding - to breakdown how many monthly services I’m now paying for.

Here’s my monthly breakdown:

For me, that’s a total of $96.84 a month - not including the amount I actually pay for Internet access.

Granted, that’s coming out of a two income home, but it really is eye-opening to see it listed out that way.  And this doesn’t even include other ways that people are supporting content creators these days, such as Kickstarter and Patreon.

What about you, gentle reader? Sound off in the comments. Lets see what we pay for today.

It's the FINAL 'X-Men: Apocalypse' Trailer, And an Old Friend Returns

With just over a month left until X-Men: Apocalypse completes the “First Class” trilogy, 20th Century Fox is pulling out all the stops to make sure they have a Memorial Day success.

…including revealing arguably one of the film’s biggest surprises in the latest trailer.

www.youtube.com/watch

That’s right, in this movie - the ninth in the X-Men series overall, following up where Days of Future Past left off - Hugh Jackman is back as the ever-popular Wolverine.

It’s a move which is sure to move the needle for long-time fans of the franchise, but I have to say - this film has been one that has looked decent-to-good in every trailer so far, but I’ve yet to be hit with the ravenous, fanboy need to see the film.

I’ll be there opening weekend, for sure, but I really wish that Matthew Vaughn could’ve continued on as the keeper of this series after First Class.

X-Men: Apocalypse hits theaters on May 27, 2016.

The 2nd Trailer For 'Independence Day: Resurgence' Promises Intergalactic Destruction

Could this be the most fun movie of the Summer?

20 years ago, Independence Day was the hands down champion of the box office, and the populace, delivering a massively fun mix of alien invasion and world wide destruction.

This Summer, we’re getting the long rumored sequel - Independence Day: Resurgence - and the latest trailer hit today, looking like an incredibly fun follow up to the 1996 classic.

youtu.be/RfJgT89hE…

Really, my only problem here is the lack of Will Smith. But for some reason, I expect a surprise cameo. We’ll see.

Either way, we have Bill Pullman’s sweet hobo beard to take in the destruction with.

Independence Day: Resurgence hits theaters on June 24, 2016.

Back At It Again: New 'Jason Bourne' Trailer

You know his name. No, not Matt Damon. No, not James Bond.

That’s right, it’s the return of amnesiac super solider Jason Bourne in the 5th Bourne film titled Jason Bourne.

It appears we’ve completely left Jeremy Renner and The Bourne Legacy in the dust (probably for the best), as the fifth film in the series - and the fourth starring Damon - puts us back with an older, wiser, yet still completely kick ass Jason Bourne being hunted around the globe.

www.youtube.com/watch

Julia Stiles is back, but this time supporting cast (full of gravitas as always) includes Ocean’s Twelve baddie Vincent Cassel, Tommy Lee Jones (in our Brian Cox/David Strathairn role), and current it-girl Alicia Vikander joining the fun.

The Bourne trilogy was the rare series where the quality improved as the series went on, so I’m excited to see another film in the franchise, especially with Paul Greengrass behind the lens again.

Sure, we don’t have much on the plot, but who cares! Bourne’s gonna smash up Vegas! And be in a fight club! YEAH!

Jason Bourne hits theaters on July 29, 2016.

The Jungle Book (2016): A Review

No more apparent is the goal of Jon Favreau’s The Jungle Book than in its wonderful opening credits.

Rendered in a mix of 3D CG and what appears to be hand-drawn animation, the credits quickly rush us through the traditional Disney castle opening - rendered as if it were drawn in the 1960’s - into a lush, incredibly realistic jungle setting…and would you believe it? None of it. Not a leaf, not a branch, not a ray of sunshine, is real. And you’re going to have a very, very hard time convincing your eyes and brain of that.

Despite taking a low-key detour with 2014’s Chef, Jon Favreau has been quietly been building a resume as one of Hollywood’s most dependable and innovative blockbuster filmmakers. It’s easy to forget that without his hard work on Iron Man and Iron Man 2, he birthed the Marvel Universe. With Elf, he gave us a modern Christmas film for the entire family. And now, with his re-interpretation of The Jungle Book, he’s repurposed a Disney classic, retaining it’s beating heart and joyous family storytelling, while pushing cinema forward with a film that is every bit as innovative and jaw-dropping as James Cameron’s Avatar.

There’s not much to say about the story of the film - if you’ve seen the 1967 Disney animated film, you’ve seen this. But you’ve never seen it come alive in quite this way.

As the film’s credits indicate - all of The Jungle Book was filmed in Downtown Los Angeles. The only thing real and true on screen is the debuting Neel Sethi, as man-cub Mowgli. With that exception, every environment and creature is rendered in CG. And somehow, in an age where effect after effect feels artificial and false, this movie populated by talking animals feels just as real and alive as a BBC Nature documentary. Very rarely does the film enter the uncanny valley, and you are along for the thrilling ride as Mowgli looks to learn his proper place in the jungle realm and escape the claws of the villainous tiger Shere Kahn.

The film is helped greatly by an absolute murderers row of Hollywood talent lending their voices. Idris Elba voices Shere Khan with every bit of the bass in his powerful voice striking fear into young Mowgli. Bill Murray plays the laid-back Baloo, with Sir Ben Kingsley adding gravitas to his role as the protective panther Bagheera. Lupita Nyong’o again provides solid work in the CG realm as wolf Raksha, and Scarlett Johannson’s sultry tones hypnotize as the snake Kaa. Other standouts in the film include Christopher Walken’s wonderful work as King Louie (changed here to being a gigantopithecus, from the original orangutan), and the last work of the late Garry Shandling as Ikki, a neurotic porkupine.

But honestly - what stands above everything else is the incredible creations of the graphics team. From motion capture actors and green screens to an incredibly realized living, breathing jungle environment filled with animals, the Moving Picture Company and Weta Digital deserve every single bit of acclaim for making this film come to life. And in that same regard, much how Avatar became all the more immersive in the large-format realm of an IMAX 3D screen, The Jungle Book too should be seen on the largest screen available, complete with 3D glasses, to truly take in the work made by these artists.

In a realm filled with superhero films and animated films, Jon Favreau’s The Jungle Book has delivered something for the entire family that pushes filmmaking forward, while retaining what made the 60’s classic so great. See it in theaters - don’t wait for home video, it won’t be anywhere near as engrossing. Give yourself up to the experience - you’ll love it.

The Jungle Book is in theaters now.

Zootopia (2016): A Review

The Walt Disney Animation Studios are in the midst of their latest renaissance, and nowhere is it more apparent than in their latest release, Zootopia.

Following in the line of CG animated films from the House of Mouse which started in kind with 2010’s Tangled, Zootopia takes a very simple idea and emboldens it with incredible artistic skill and a keen eye towards a story which reflects the world which we live in today.

On paper, the story couldn’t be simpler - a small town rabbit named Judy Hopps dedicates her life towards becoming a police officer in “the big city" - the utopian “Zootopia", a city where animals of all kinds have come together in one urban populace. They speak English, they wear clothes. They have their own townships, they have jobs. They’ve completely civilized themselves. But it’s not all that Judy hoped for.

She - despite working hard and graduating as the valedictorian of her police academy class - is immediately put on the lowest rung of the totem pole, writing traffic tickets as a meter maid. Small mammals such as rabbits have never been considered in the police world, one populated by larger animals such as wolves, elephants, and cheetahs. But she quickly finds herself wrapped up with a grifter of a fox named Nick, and together, they find themselves involved in something much, much larger - that ties into an ongoing investigation into a number of missing mammals across Zootopia.

The number of films that Zootopia references - directly, or indirectly - is countless, but you’ll find elements of 21 Jump Street, The Godfather, and oddly, even Chinatown here, all covered with an adorable fur coating. But it’s this mixture of adult storytelling with a candy-coated shell that makes Zootopia such a delight to watch for the whole family. Kids will love the adorable animals - as will you - but adults will see the deeper second level to it all.

And speaking of that second layer, that adult area of depth, Zootopia also makes a very unique choice: to reflect the world of today, and not-too-indirectly discuss the modern concerns of minorities, distrust of police, and discrmination…but via animals. Disney has found the sugar to help the medicine go down, and while (in one of the few misfires of the movie), these issues are tied up in a neat, kid-friendly bow, I commend the guts to allow the movie to take such a bold direction.

Besides this frankly shocking level of depth, Zootopia is possibly the most gorgeous production to come out of Walt Disney Animation Studios to date.

While Frozen is clearly their biggest success in recent years, I found the environments of that film to be remarkably sterile, but I have no such complaints here.

Zootopia, the city, is made up of different environments for each grouping of animals, from deserts to frozen tundra to even a rainforest, all around a central hub city, and all of them are rendered in beautiful computer animated detail. It’s clear that the artists and animators had a blast here, with countless visual gags and easter eggs, and beautiful character design work that anthropomorphizes countless species while maintaining their structure, adorable noses and well lit fur.

These beautiful designs are matched with wonderful voice work, featuring great performances from Once Upon A Time’s Ginnifer Goodwin as Judy Hopps and Arrested Development’s Jason Bateman as the fox Nick Wilde. They’re teamed with a who’s-who of character actors, including JK Simmons, Jenny Slate, and - of course - Idris Elba.

I absolutely loved every frame of this film, and applaud the filmmakers for taking a timely risk with their storytelling. Beyond a great time at the movies, I hope that Zootopia can inspire conversations between parents and families for generations to come - and feel as if they’ll enjoy the road that brought them there.

Congrats Disney - your in-house animation team is officially making masterpieces of a Pixar level. I cannot recommend Zootopia enough.

Zootopia is in theaters now.

James Cameron Announces 4 'Avatar' Sequels

We asked for this, I guess?

In an announcement that has dumbfounded me, and most of the Internet, director James Cameron has officially announced that there will be FOUR sequels to Avatar.

We had previously heard that he had employed the services of a team of screenwriters to write three sequels to Avatar, the biggest box office success of all time, but the announcement of a fourth was absolutely jarring.

Per his announcement today, the schedule for the movies is as follows:

This is insane. The second movie will arrive NINE YEARS after the first, and somehow, we will get one every other year, and the final installment with a one year turnaround.

If anyone can pull it off, it’s the guy who made a $250 Million movie into a $3 Billion success, even with 3D that we all doubted and changed the way blockbusters are released.

But will anyone care? As has been discussed elsewhere, the movie hasn’t had a lasting cultural impact.

And even in this era of cinematic universes, doesn’t FIVE sequels somehow feel punishing?

What say you? Sound off in the comments.

Our First Look At 'Ghost In The Shell'

Scarlett Johansson gets ready to take on another nerd icon. But not without controversy.

After many starts and stops, the live-action Ghost in the Shell movie has officially begun production, and Paramount has revealed the first image, shown above.

The film is not already without controversy, however. Scarlett Johansson (The Avengers) is starting in the lead of the adaptation of the beloved Japanese anime and manga, causing some early outrage and claims of whitewashing.

It’s an understandable concern. Her character, The Major, typically has the last name of Kusanagi - a last name not mentioned in the press release - and in turn, you’d assume an Asian, if not Japanese, actress would be headlining the film. Not the clearly Caucasian Johansson.

It’s a sticky situation, for sure. It’s awesome to see a major action film headlined by a woman, but in that same regard, it’s a shame to see the racial concerns wiped away. At the same time: why do I feel so sure that if it weren’t for Johansson as lead, the movie would not have been green-lit, let alone with (presumably) a major budget?

Things to ponder as the film gets closer.

Here’s the full press release:

The film, which is based on the famous Kodansha Comics manga series of the same name, written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow, is produced by Avi Arad (“THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 1 & 2,“ “IRON MAN"), Ari Arad (“GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE"), and Steven Paul (“GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE"). Michael Costigan (“PROMETHEUS"), Tetsu Fujimura (“TEKKEN"), Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, whose animation studio Production I.G produced the Japanese “GHOST IN THE SHELL" film and television series, and Jeffrey Silver (“EDGE OF TOMORROW,“ “300") will executive produce.

Based on the internationally-acclaimed sci-fi property, “GHOST IN THE SHELL" follows the Major, a special ops, one-of-a-kind human-cyborg hybrid, who leads the elite task force Section 9. Devoted to stopping the most dangerous criminals and extremists, Section 9 is faced with an enemy whose singular goal is to wipe out Hanka Robotic’s advancements in cyber technology.

“We are so pleased to be in Wellington to shoot GHOST IN THE SHELL,’“ said producers Avi Arad, Ari Arad, Michael Costigan and Jeffrey Silver. “The city boasts state-of-the-art production facilities and a rich urban landscape that make it an ideal setting for a sci-fi action film. The crew-base in New Zealand working on the film is first class, and working with Sir Richard Taylor and the team at Weta Workshop is inspirational on every level. The people of New Zealand have been terrific partners in helping us bring this story and its beloved characters to audiences around the world and we are thankful for their continued hospitality.“

Ghost in the Shell is set for a March 31, 2017 release.

'Godzilla Resurgence' Delivers A Stark Trailer

Godzilla has been reborn for a new generation. And he looks angry.

While we here in the states were blessed with a new, franchise-leading Godzilla in 2014, it’s been twelve long years since the terrible lizard wrecked havoc in his native Japan (with the last film being 2004’s Godzilla: Final Wars).

This Summer brings Godzilla Resurgence (also known as Shin Gojira), and prior to today, all we had was a simple teaser trailer…emphasis on the tease.

youtu.be/192nSuo_F…

Today - however, we got an incredibly affective trailer, which, in a move that shows how different US marketing is from Japan, features no dialogue, but instead, some of the film’s visuals with a haunting and affecting music track…plus some trademark Godzilla roars, of course.

www.youtube.com/watch

This looks incredible, and much as the original Godzilla in the 1950’s prayed upon atomic fears, it’s clear that this instance is using imagery similar to that seen after the 2011 Japan tsunami.

The film is co-directed by Shinji Higuchi (who worked on Gamera films previously), and Hideaki Anno (who broke anime nerd’s brains with Evangelion), so there’s a definite pedigree there.

All I can say for sure - this modern version of Godzilla looks like he’s been through Hell, and he’s now here to raise it on our cities.

Godzilla Resurgence hits theaters on July 29, 2016 in Japan. No official US release has been announced at this time.

Marvel's Spider-Man Film Has A Title

The latest reboot for Spider-Man is definitely headed back to high school.

Last night at Cinemacon, the yearly convention where all of the major movie studios announce their forthcoming slate of films to entice theater owners, Sony Pictures confirmed one of the worst-kept rumors in film - the title of the new Spider-Man film.

That title? Spider-Man: Homecoming.

The first Spidey film headed up by Marvel Studios, Spider-Man: Homecoming will be Tom Holland’s second appearance as the wall-crawler, and his first solo film.

Details remain minimal about the film so far, but based on the title (and Holland’s age), we’re clearly returning to the high school era for Peter Parker, although it has been repeatedly confirmed that this is not an origin film.

Yesterday, word broke from BirthMoviesDeath.com that one of the villains in the film will be The Vulture, but this has yet to be officially confirmed. Either way - based on the positive buzz on Spidey’s appearance in Captain America: Civil War and with Marvel Studios in the driver’s seat - I’m excited to see what this Homecoming brings.

It has to be better than The Amazing Spider-Man 2, right?

Spider-Man: Homecoming hits theaters on July 7, 2017.

Marvel Studios Unveils 'Doctor Strange'

On the verge of Civil War, Marvel Studios has taken the wraps off of its November release, Doctor Strange.

Premiering on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the first teaser trailer for the film is just that - an extended tease - and promises one of the most unique Marvel films yet.

www.youtube.com/watch

Feeling as if it were equal parts Batman Begins, Inception, and even The Matrix, Sherlock’s Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Stephen Strange, and this trailer promises that Doctor Strange could be one of the most unique movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

As the second film in “Phase 3", and the fourteenth Marvel film overall, this is arguably their biggest risk since Guardians of the Galaxy, but I feel like they’ve earned it.

As a comic fan, I’ve never been the most interested (or knowledgable) about Doctor Strange (despite learning thanks to Sean Howe’s fantastic book Marvel Comics: The Untold Story that EVERY writer has a Doctor Strange story they wish to do), so I’m excited to see how the character is brought to life for general audiences.

Directed by Scott Derrickson (Sinister), Doctor Strange also stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Michael Stuhlbarg, Mads Mikkelsen, and a bald Tilda Swinton.

Two teaser posters for the film appear below.

[gallery columns=“2” link=“file” ids=“20869,20868”]

Doctor Strange hits theaters on November 4, 2016

The First 'Rogue One' Trailer Is Here!

Our first look at the first “Star Wars Story" has arrived.

Premiering this morning exclusively on ABC’s Good Morning America, then quickly arriving online - because really, what’s an exclusive these days? - we’re getting our first glimpse of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

There is a lot riding on this film. Directed by Gareth Edwards, who gave us the 2010 indie Monsters and the awesome 2014 Godzilla reboot, Rogue One is the first “non-episode" Star Wars film, and is key to the continued success of Star Wars as a Marvel-esq franchise universe. We’ll be getting these “Star Wars Stories" between Episode releases, and it will even include the “Young Han Solo" film directed by 21 Jump Street’s Phil Lord and Chris Miller.

Starring Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything), and undoubtedly misspelled across the Internet as Rouge One, the movie takes us back to the era of A New Hope. Surprisingly, this trailer was not included on the home release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens earlier this week, but it has finally arrived online in full HD.

Here it is! (I’m sure you clicked play already.)

www.youtube.com/watch

So, what do I think?

This looks phenomenal. A grittier, harder edged Star Wars film, with an angsty female lead? Not what one would expect from Star Wars, yet it feels perfectly Star Wars at the same time. This is the type of risk that the franchise needs to move forward. I am ALL ABOUT THIS.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story hits theaters on December 16, 2016.

Yet Another 'The Nice Guys' Trailer Appears!

I honestly feel like this could be the best movie of the Summer of 2016.

I was already sold on Shane Black’s return to filmmaking with the red band trailer when it was released last December, but now that Warner Bros has released a more general, green-band trailer, I’m feeling even more confident that The Nice Guys is the pseudo-sequel to Kiss Kiss Bang Bang we wanted ever since the credits rolled for that film.

www.youtube.com/watch

I’m really loving how wimpy Ryan Gossling’s character is here, and I can’t recall the last time that I was so damned excited to see Russell Crowe in a movie - he seems the perfect curmudgeonly foil to Gossling’s character.

We’re missing the standard Shane Black Christmas setting, but good news - although not mentioned in this all-audiences trailer - the movie apparently revolves around the 1970’s porn industry, so we’ll get all the naughty goodness we expect from a film written and directed by the Lethal Weapon author.

The Nice Guys hits theaters on May 20, 2016. I’m there for screening #1.

Behold The Amazons! New 'Wonder Woman' Image Appears

Lady warriors are looking FIERCE, y’all!

Just in time for her big-screen debut in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Entertainment Weekly has another new image from the forthcoming Wonder Woman solo film.

Featuring Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman, we can also see our first glances at her’s mother, Queen Hippolyta (Gladiator’s Connie Nielsen), and her two military aunts — General Antiope (House of Cards' Robin Wright) and Antiope’s lieutenant, Menalippe (Force Majeure’s Lisa Loven Kongsli).

It looks like they’ve all been on the 300 diet, and are ready to wreck some shit, to be perfectly frank.

I recommend checking out the full article, for some additional plot details, and an interview with the costume designer, who is clearly having the time of her life.

Wonder Woman hits theaters on June 23, 2017.

Darkness, No Parents, His Own Movie: 'The LEGO Batman Movie' Trailer

The breakout character of The LEGO Movie is getting his own film next year, and our first look has arrived.

Let’s be honest - the reviews for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice have been a complete bummer. We need something to turn Bat-fans around.

Why not go to the best recent incarnation of the character - Will Arnett’s incredibly ego driven and ridiculously childish version, as seen in the remarkably great The LEGO Movie?  Enter: The LEGO Batman Movie.

youtu.be/aBJyp2LFH…

Our first teaser is just that, a tease, but I’m glad to see he’s keeping his music career.

No sign yet of his supporting cast, including Michael Cera as Robin, Zach Galifinakis as Joker, and Mariah Carey (yep!) as Gotham’s Mayor, but this is just odd and silly enough to love. I’m in.

The LEGO Batman Movie hits theaters in 2017.

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016): A Review

Bad Robot has given the Cloverfield franchise new life with 10 Cloverfield Lane.

Two months ago, to the shock and surprise of the entire movie side of the Internet, Bad Robot dropped an unexpected teaser trailer in front of showings of the Michael Bay-directed Benghazi movie, 13 Hours. Depicting a woman stuck in some sort of shelter, the trailers biggest secret was revealed at the end - it was a Cloverfield movie, titled 10 Cloverfield Lane.

The long discussed, often dissected Bad Robot “Mystery Box" is in play again - eight years after Cloverfield gave new life to the giant monster film (after some surprise marketing), moviegoers have another installment of the franchise (of sorts) with director Dan Trachtenberg’s debut.

The movie puts us in the shoes of Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Scott Pilgrim). An aspiring fashion designer, we see her leave her fiancÁ© in the movie’s opening sequence. As she is driving away from the life she knew, her car is struck is struck by another, sending her flying off of the road. Michelle awakes injured in a locked room - unaware of her surroundings or situation. The door opens - and on the other side stands Howard (John Goodman, Argo). Gruff and no-nonsense, Howard tells her that a chemical attack has occurred above ground, that he saved her, and now they - along with a third survivor, Emmitt (John Gallagher Jr., The Newsroom) - must stay underground, as it is their only chance of survival.

And that’s about all the plot I am willing to discuss. The film that follows is intense, tension filled, and an absolute joy to take in. Trachtenberg has a hell of a pot-boiler here for his first film, and despite only holding three characters in one central location, is more engaging and in-depth than some of the bigger, globe trotting adventures we see hitting the cineplex these days. Characters motivations grow and change, as do our opinions of them, revelations come to light, and the scale and scope shifts all the way to the movie’s final reel, where - of course - all hell breaks loose.

Perhaps it’s the fact that I have seen this movie so close to finishing the brilliant video game Firewatch, but many moments of 10 Cloverfield Lane feel video game-y. Not to say that the movie is without merit or weight, as many critics would use the term, but instead the film feels like a well crafted adventure tale.

The more we learn about the characters, the more we see them grow, and the more aware of the environment we become, the greater our understanding of the situation is. Add the fact that there are moments of reveal and discovery, 10 Cloverfield Lane will feel right at home for those currently obsessed with the games from Telltale and other point-and-click adventures.

It’s a long way to go around it, but that’s to say that the movie is clearly created by one of the “video game generation", and it results in a suspense thriller that feels both modern and completely throwback in the same moment. Bear McCreary’s bombastic score helps sell the throwback notion, with tunes that could easily have scored some of Hitchcock’s classics.

With only three characters, 10 Cloverfield Lane could feel claustrophobic, but instead, the script (by Josh Campbell, Matthew Stucken and Damien Chazelle) allows you to learn much about each character by their actions and dialogue. No one fits a perfect mold. You’ll always be asking questions - who is right, who is wrong, and what is the real truth.

Michelle is a woman running away from her past, but is also incredibly independent and resourceful. Howard is equally fatherly and inviting, while incredibly haunting and threatening. Winstead and Goodman both get to shine in very different lights - Winstead feels like a Sigourney Weaver-esq action heroine (and I’d love to see her grow into that role), and Goodman delivers a greatest hits of his filmography, showing the warmth we loved from him in Roseanne, yet a cutting intensity. Gallagher’s Emmitt is a solid glue to the film, with an open heart and believability. He gets short thrift to his story, but provides perfect levity to the tension. Also - there’s a great audio cameo from a JJ Abrams alum. See if you can guess it. (And no Googling!)

While I walked away from the film absolutely delighted with the results, I did have some nits to pick - mostly involving the ending. Without going into spoilers, I feel like the movie could’ve ended a beat or two early. But that’s honestly the worst thing I can say.

10 Cloverfield Lane delivers incredible performances, a fantastic and intense level of tension and excitement, and rewards movie goers on the promise of the Mystery Box. Dan Trachtenberg is now on my list of directors to watch, and the Cloverfield franchise is now born as a series where anything can happen.

'Hey, Everyone.' New 'Captain America: Civil War' Trailer Hits

Action, intrigue, excitement - the new trailer for Captain America: Civil War has hit, and it’s got everything you could want…and a debut you’ve been waiting for.

Just watch the trailer first.

youtu.be/dKrVegVI0…

HOW GREAT WAS THAT?

I’m not sure what’s best:

But I think we can agree - the cherry on the superhero clashing sundae is the official Marvel Cinematic Universe debut of SPIDER-MAN, as portrayed by Tom Holland.

It’s not much, but the moment feels right. We learn Tony’s nickname for him (UNDEROOS!), he swings in, and he looks right.

In fact…here’s a closer look. Click for detail:

The costume has the MCU look and feel of practicality, but it also is very true to the Ditko look, complete with - for the first time on film - his shifting eye lenses, a touch I can’t appreciate enough in this text.

All and all, this makes for YET ANOTHER Marvel movie which I cannot wait to attend.  There’s a new poster, too.

How are you feeling about it?

Captain America: Civil War collides into theaters on May 6, 2016.

Paul Feig's GHOSTBUSTERS Gets Its First Trailer

Bustin' makes us feel good. As does this trailer.

youtu.be/w3ugHP-yZ…

As promised - the first trailer for the rebooted Ghostbusters hit the web right at 9am EST, and fans - and detractors - alike have flocked to seeing what director Paul Feig has cooked up for this modern re-imagining of the 1984 classic comedy.

This trailer does a good job of setting up our cast without providing the full plot (and I really wanted to see more of Chris Hemsworth’s secretary character, Kevin), but what we see does look good.

Wiig and McCarthy are showing their trademark chemistry, Leslie Jones (while feeling slightly stereotyped) is looking to have a major coming-out party as a comedic powerhouse, and Kate McKinnon is going to be the intriguing weirdo we thought she’d be from the stills. Expect her character, Holtzmann, to hit a cult status across the web by release date, if she hasn’t already.

I was on the fence of rebooting such a beloved film, but it looks like Feig’s done well here, with really cool looking ghosts, and the goofy heart of the original retained.  Add the fact that Spy and Bridesmaids are two of the funniest comedies I’ve seen in theaters in the past 10 years, I’m all in for this.

Ghostbusters hits theaters on July 15, 2016.

Thank You, Daniel Bryan (or, a look back at a life of watching wrestling)

Last night, with thousands of people waiting on his every word, millions of people watching at home, and countless typically-cynical fans tweeting away their tears, WWE star Daniel Bryan (real name: Bryan Danielson) retired. And it has me looking back at my own relationship with professional wrestling.

Professional wrestling isn’t a “real" sport. The outcomes and characters are predetermined. Their actions decided by a team of writers, or one centralized “booker". This causes many to call wrestling fake, which, in theory it is - but the way the characters and real people behind them connect is anything but.

It’s as fake as our favorite movies and television shows, only the actors do their own stunts. Live. Without crashpads (usually.) Yes, Game of Thrones didn’t really happen, but it doesn’t stop us from investing ourselves in the lives the Lannisters and Starks. Yes, Daniel Bryan didn’t really defeat his opponents on his way to champion - but he won us over.

The intrinsic link between performer and audience is what has always gravitated me to pro wrestling. I grew up devouring it as a child, my father exposing me to the weekend televised antics of the WWF and the NWA (later WCW). I stuck with it through the Monday Night Wars, as WWF and WCW battled on the airwaves, as dozens (if not hundreds) of talented performers looked to eek out their stake of one of the most successful eras of the so-called sport.

Given my love of comedy - another performance art without a net - and what we’ve created with Super Art Fight, that started as people drawing, and grew into a colorful parade of characters in hyper-dramatic “combat", this probably isn’t too surprising to hear, but I absolutely loved it.

My friends were just as enraptured as I was. We started getting together for all of the pay-per-views, even those of the rogue, genre-redefining ECW, and then we got even deeper.

Yes, I was (along with my friends, some of whom have gone professional - or are working to become it) a backyard wrestler. But we weren’t those dumb kids you saw on 20/20 jumping off of roofs, hitting each other with fluorescent light tubes, or cutting our foreheads to bleed. Oh no. We were nerds - and in turn, our interests were more in the work of smaller, more talented guys like Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Rey Mysterio Jr. and Chris Benoit. I also really loved doing commentary, aping the styles of Jim Ross, Gordon Solie, and Joey Styles.

We wanted to know how to move like them. We wanted to know how to work like them. We wanted to talk like them. And we continued on with our interest. Watching pay-per-views and talking the weekly episodes of Raw and Nitro quickly turned into reading message boards and news sites online to get the behind the scenes info. Our roads on the Internet then quickly turned us to the world of VHS tape trading, buying blank VHS tapes, mailing them to reputable sources, and getting hours of independent or Japanese wrestling back, all to be devoured.

As time moved on, so did we, and so did the industry.

WWF purchased WCW and ECW. They dropped the F and became the WWE. And for years, in the mainstream, things were docile. There was no competition. It got boring. It got stagnant.

But if you put in the effort…it got very interesting.

The world of VHS tape trading turned to DVD-R trading. Fans, such as myself, got even easier access to show footage. And at the same time, the Internet became the way for independent promotions to make a name for themselves. And those promotions featured stars you’d never heard of.

In 2002, I went to Philadelphia, PA with my friends to head to a rec center gym. The company was “Ring of Honor". The show, just their fourth, was built around crowning their first champion. And while the card was full of names we’d come to know and love - Christopher Daniels, AJ Styles, Low Ki, the guy that got my interest the most was “The American Dragon", Bryan Danielson.

The new era of wrestler was interesting. They were fans, like us. They watched tapes, like us. They were built…better than us, but they were no longer the large, steroid fueled monsters we were used to.

Danielson was my height, but he had something special. Coming to the ring with short hair, clean faced, in white tights and boots, you wouldn’t have marked him as special. But he carried himself as someone special. He carried himself like he was important. And when the bell rang, he was amazing.

He could work a hold in a way we hadn’t seen in years. He could throw himself over the ropes with such energy and enthusiasm. He wanted to have great matches, and we wanted to see those great matches.

It was the beginning of something special.

From 2002 to 2007, I became a hardcore fan of independent wrestling. My buddies Jason, Adam, and most frequently, Mark and I (who I was already close with, due to our love of - coincidentally, indie rock) would go from state to state, weekend to weekend, seeing shows from Ring of Honor, the comic-book styled CHIKARA, CZW and others. If we could tack on music shows before and after? Sold. We’re in.

www.youtube.com/watch

New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania…if it was within driving distance, and the card sounded good? We were there. The shows we missed? We caught on DVD. We were into it. Hard.

And who was always the personification of this era? Bryan Danielson. Sure, guys like CM Punk wouldn’t be denied (and would go to mainstream fame in WWE, and is now planning to take over UFC), but Danielson was that era of indie wrestling. Danielson always had the best matches. Danielson was the measuring stick for new talent. If they could hang with him, they were going to be great…and usually, they were.

www.youtube.com/watch

2007 was when being a wrestling fan became difficult.

2007 saw the horrible, nightmarish murder-suicide, when Chris Benoit killed his family, and then his wife. He was the guy who represented the style that indie wrestling was following in the footsteps in, a guy who I’d traded tapes and watched pay-per-views to see, but it’s that same style that mangled his body and gave him concussion after concussion. We were learning the dark side of concussions, and we learned it in one of the darkest moments in sports, probably ever.

It was hard to be a fan after that. Watching shows, following companies didn’t really feel the same. It felt off. It felt sad. So my interest went dormant. I’d read about things, sure, but watching weekly TV, trading footage…it just wasn’t worth the effort anymore.

In 2008, I had the joy of, alongside a group of amazing artists whom I get to call friends, starting up Super Art Fight. They needed a host and commentator. I - alongside Ross Nover - stepped in. How appropriate is it then, to take everything I learned from watching years upon years of footage, and apply a pro-wrestling touch to two artists drawing on a wall?

As Super Art Fight grew, my love of wrestling returned from there. I didn’t have the time, money, or energy to follow as much as I did, but I did start watching WWE again. If I was going to be helping people act like over-the-top pro-wrestlers, how could I give the right advice if I wasn’t learning from that world anymore? They had me again. I was in.

In 2010, what I thought was unthinkable happened. I had heard that CM Punk made it to the WWE - it made sense, he had the gift of gab. But Bryan Danielson, the guy who personified the era of wrestling that I loved more than anything else, had signed to the WWE.

Was he still smaller than everyone else? Yes. Was he still working matches in a way no one else would? Yes. Was he still outclassing everyone else on the card? Yes.

And his would be done.

In 2014, after four years of poor writing, including where he had a character where he was boring, a character where he danced wacky, a character where he was a “loser vegan", Bryan Danielson - now Daniel Bryan - didn’t just find himself in the WWE, no. He proved that his talents and skills could not be denied. He found himself in the main event of the Super Bowl of wrestling, Wrestlemania. And he found himself champion.

It seemed like the beginning of a new day for the WWE. Millions watched as he became champion on the WWE Network, a new Netflix-like service, where you could watch every major event streaming live (and look through the decades of catalog footage, countless pay-per-views and television episodes…who needs DVDs?). And with Bryan at the top, the WWE was now filled with talent who he helped shine a line on. Guys like Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, Kevin Owens, Adrian Neville, Sami Zayn, and countless others, who he worked with in the indie world, and I had the pleasure of watching come up. I felt just as excited to see those guys arrive as I’m sure they felt to be atop the mountain, to be a part of the biggest company in their industry.

www.youtube.com/watch

It felt great. But sadly, clouds would soon come. Shortly after having his Wrestlemania moment in 2014, Danielson had to walk away due to nagging injuries. His shoulder? His neck? Something wasn’t right. He tried to come back at the beginning of 2015, and again, found himself injured. Legitimately unable to compete.

Last night, Bryan had the final segment of WWE’s weekly show, Raw, all to himself. He had mentioned on Twitter earlier that he would be retiring. This wasn’t a storyline. This was anything but fake. Like one of his idols, the concussions caught up with him. But thankfully this story would not end so darkly. 9 years later, we have better testing, better abilities to spot when and where things could go wrong.

www.youtube.com/watch With his final moment, he got to share with his fans the same joy and same gratitude they had shared with him. It’s a sad moment - but one gets to recognize the greatness he had. Sixteen years in the industry he loved. He met his wife (fellow WWE star Brie Bella). He made countless fans, myself included, love his skills, his ability, and hold their breath during his amazing matches. But he has to walk away. And thankfully, it’s with his health, and his head held high.

To that, all I can say is this: Thank you, Bryan Danielson. Thank you for rekindling my love of one of my favorite hobbies. Thank you for being a class act. Thank you for showing us how one can do everything and leave happy and fulfilled. Thank you for the memories. And good luck with the next step.

A Look at the Super Bowl 50 Movie Trailers

Just some brief thoughts on the different movie trailers (and movie-related ads) which appeared on tonight’s Super Bowl 50 broadcast.

If you follow me on Twitter, you got versions of this, but here’s some extended thoughts - plus an easy one-stop-shop for all of the movie ads which played during the big game!

www.youtube.com/watch

www.youtube.com/watch

Airing during the endless pre-show to the game, these ads for Gotham City (starring Ben Affleck’s Bruce Wayne) and Metropolis (starring a subdued version of Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor) actually served as real ads for Turkish Airlines - who is the “official airline of Batman v Superman“, which is a thing I guess. Either way, this is way better than any of the actual trailers so far.

www.youtube.com/watch

Sigh. With Deadpool hitting theaters on Friday, Fox kinda had to do the proper legwork here for the Merc-With-The-Mouth, but honestly, the more I see of the movie, the less interested I am. I have a bad feeling about this one.

www.youtube.com/watch

Wow! This “blood relative" of Cloverfield sure does look better and better each time we see footage from it. I love that it’s just about a month until release, and we still know nothing. I am full-on in.

www.youtube.com/watch

This teaser is short and sweet, and honestly, with the team lineup shots alone, would’ve sold people. But I love seeing little new bits like Tony Stark’s new bullet blocking glove of doom. WAY INTO IT!

www.youtube.com/watch

Technically, we at home were just shown a brief spot telling us to then go look up this one. But I’ll save you the time and effort. Jon Favreau’s live-action take on the animated classic still looks stunning (remember - EVERYTHING minus Mowgli is CG), and I’m loving the voice work. This movie could be a huge family hit.

www.youtube.com/watch

Bourne 5 finally has a title, and with this first look, appears to be full of crazy, crazy action. I’ve grown to really love Matt Damon with age, and I’ve always thought the Bourne franchise was pretty underrated - even if The Bourne Legacy was a less than stellar effort. But who cares? Matt Damon is back, and he’s in fight clubs and smashing up Vegas while avoiding Tommy Lee Jones. Gonna make for a fun Summertime watch.

www.youtube.com/watch

OK, 45 seconds isn’t a lot to go on, but based on what I saw in the prior trailer, and the sheer insanity that KRANG will be in this one, this might make up for all of the sins of the first Michael Bay-produced film. But why the blue hell is Megan Fox dressing up like a schoolgirl? Strikes me as a very Don DiMello-esq move.

www.youtube.com/watch

OK, while not for a movie specifically, how crazy is it that we now get mainstream ads which treat comic characters - especially obscure ones, like Ant-Man - with proper respect? It’s almost like getting a modern version of the classic Hostess Fruit Pie ads, but with way more awesome CG, and Paul Rudd! Best ad of the night, easily.

www.youtube.com/watch

2016 marks TWENTY YEARS since Independence Day, and clearly we still love it, as it was referenced in a Bud Light ad this evening. That said, I’m glad to see that we’re going to make the sequel take full advantage of two decades worth of CG progress, and turn into the “giant alien warfare and destruction" skid. I expect an incredibly dumb thrill-ride.

www.youtube.com/watch

Olivia Munn looks GREAT as Psylocke! The rest, not super surprising, but I can’t believe how comic-accurate she’s turning out to be.

So, what say you? What trailers did you love? What ads did you enjoy? Fire off in the comments.

Key & Peele Search For A Cat in 'Keanu'

Our first look at Key and Peele’s first feature film has finally arrived.

Looking like an homage to John Wick, Keanu is the story of a man named Rell, recently dumped (Jordan Peele), who finds solace in a new kitten that arrives at his door. Named Keanu, he is catnapped - and now, with the help of his cousin Clarence (Keegan Michael Key), Rell must work his way through the local gang world to get his cat back.

The first red band trailer (NSFW due to language), is below.

youtu.be/KjEusWO6V…

I know, this sounds completely ridiculous, but I think Key and Peele are on to something here. The trailer looks hilarious, the kitten is goddamned adorable, and I love the juxtaposition of the cat and the action. Plus, it’s nice to see Method Man getting acting work again.

Key and Peele also wrote the film, with their long-time show director, Peter Atencio, directing the film.

I hate to make a strong comparison - but the last time I remember a creative trio making the jump from the small screen to the big screen on a risky premise Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost delivered us Shaun of the Dead. I’m hoping for similar good things here.

Keanu hits theaters on April 29, 2016.

'Star Wars: Episode VIII' Delayed Until Christmas 2017

Sorry folks - we’re all going to have to wait a little bit longer for the continued adventures of Rey, Finn and Poe.

Lucasfilm and Disney broke some hearts today, as they announced that the release date for Star Wars: Episode VIII is being pushed back - from the 40th Anniversary of A New Hope celebrating date of May 26, 2017 to the new third-straight-Star-Wars-Christmas date of December 17, 2017.

There are a few different ways to look at this, so indulge me with a few different takes…

Moving Star Wars: Episode VIII just gives director/writer Rian Johnson (Looper) more time to create a sequel that we’ll all love - and now that we’ve all seen The Force Awakens, deliver on the things that we really liked…while avoiding those who didn’t. Episode VIII should just be all the better for it.

Disney really just wants to control the Christmas buying season. It’s incredibly obvious that Disney is making money hand-over-fist with the Star Wars franchise, and there’s no better way to keep fans buying merch around Christmas than by getting them excited for a new film every Christmas. (I mean, Rogue One is set for Christmas 2016, too.)

Of course - they might double down on Rey merchandise this time. Apparently they’ve learned from last time…and last time wasn’t just to avoid spoilers.

2017 is looking like a HUGE year for franchise movies. Now that Star Wars is moving to Christmas, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man Tell No Tales is taking the May 26, 2017 release date. Also moving around today - the Marvel/Sony Spider-Man reboot, coming out earlier on July 7, 2017, and the unnecessary Jumanji remake, pushed back from Christmas 2016, to July 28, 2017.

But the real time period to look at remains Christmas:

Episode VIII is now opening the same day as Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One, and looming around the corner on December 25, 2017 is Avatar 2, leading to a direct battle between bitter rivals for box office glory.

I wouldn’t be shocked to see Avatar 2 move back. Or not? We shall see.

First Look Footage From 'Wonder Woman'

It’s not much, but it’s something, right?

Coming from last night’s Dawn of Justice League special on the CW, we have our first look at the World War I-set Wonder Woman film.

youtu.be/LuOvq2bD8…

The footage shown is little more than talking heads and some establishing shots as Geoff Johns rambles about the film, but given that the movie just started filming at the end of the year, it’s more than I had expected to be revealed at this point in the process.

Since there’s not much context to this footage, it’s hard to judge, but I continue to like Gadot in the role.

Wonder Woman arrives in movie theaters on June 23, 2017.

The New 'Suicide Squad' Trailer Has Arrived

Get ready for a lot of Queen and a lot of villains.

As promised, the new trailer for Suicide Squad aired during the Dawn of the Justice League special, and here it is in full.

www.youtube.com/watch

I’m not so into Leto’s Joker, but the world is going to love Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn.

Suicide Squad hits theaters on August 5, 2016.

Steve Rogers Returns as 'Captain America' This Summer

You knew this was coming in time for the movie, right?

Announced on ABC during the Marvel’s Captain America: 75 Heroic Years TV special and confirmed by Marvel.com, Steve Rogers will no longer be the feeble old man he has been the past few years - he’s getting his powers back and returning as Captain America.

In his new series, Captain America: Steve Rogers, he’s got a new shield and a new outlook, but former Falcon Sam Wilson will remain on as Captain America as well.

Writer Nick Spencer - who is currently writing Captain America: Sam Wilson - will pen the title (both titles will exist concurrently), with artist Jesus Saiz assigned to the book. That’s his art at the top of the post.

It’s easy to believe this as a money grab to tie into the Captain America: Civil War film coming this May, but don’t worry…it’s actually to tie into the forthcoming Civil War II comic. OH BOY!

Captain America: Steve Rogers hits shelves this Summer.

A New Chuck Klosterman Book Is Coming!

Chuck Klosterman is the best, and I really cannot wait to read this.

Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs was one of the first books that made me realize that someone could write intelligently about pop-culture. And ever since reading it, I’ve devoured every one of Klosterman’s books, interviews, and so on.

So when Vulture got the exclusive reveal of his next book, you know I got the vapors.

Titled What If We’re Wrong: Thinking About the Present As If It Were the Past the book is:

You can read more at the link above. Even the book’s cover is genius!

What If We’re Wrong: Thinking About the Present As If It Were the Past hits bookshelves and Kindles on June 7, 2016.

Vin Diesel to fight JET LI in 'xXx 3'

Vin Diesel has the coolest career ever, right?

Like, yes, The Last Witch Hunter bombed and The Pacifier was kind of a joke, but - really, how goddamned awesome is this:

Yeah. THAT Jet Li! HELL YEAH! (And thanks for the story, Hollywood Reporter!)

Now to just explain how he’s in the 3rd xXx, after regenerating into the Second Doctor (Ice Cube) in the second film.

xXx 3: The Return of Xander Cage hits theaters in 2017.

The DC Films 'Justice League' Revealed! Sorta!

They look as you’d expect.

Coming just hours before a special titled The Dawn of the Justice League airs on The CW, DC Comics - via a new Facebook page dedicated to the DC Films.

Seen as a whole, the image is exactly as you’d expect. Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and Aquaman look as they do in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, meanwhile, the first glimpses of Cyborg and The Flash don’t shock, surprise or impress, but instead look very much like their DC Comics incarnations while looking like they’d fit into a Zack Snyder film at the same time.  But we really never were worried about how they’d look, were we?

In short - I really need to see more. And maybe we will tonight. If we do, I’ll do my best to write about it.

Justice League hits theaters in two parts, with part 1 arriving in 2017, and part 2 following in 2019.

Girls Can Party Too: 'Neighbors 2' Trailer Arrives

The surprisingly great Neighbors is getting a sequel this coming Summer, and the first trailer has arrived.

I was honestly shocked by how much I enjoyed 2014’s Neighbors, a raunchy comedy that had a heartfelt story about growing old wrapped with wacky adults vs. fraternity humor.

Smash cut to now, and we’re getting a sequel (because the first made a LOT of money.)

www.youtube.com/watch

What’s different? Well, the antagonists are a sorority lead by ChloÁ« Grace Moretz now, and the married couple played by Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne (the first movie’s MVP) is being helped by Zac Efron this time (along with returning cast members Ike Barinholtz and Carla Gallo).

That said - this does actually look funny. Comedy sequels aren’t always a great idea, and more have failed than succeeded, but this might be a good time at the cinema. At the least, the trailer made me chuckle a few times (and hey! Hannibal Buress is back!).

OH - before I forget - that girl who looks like Jonah Hill’s sister? Actually Jonah Hill’s sister.

Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising hits theaters on May 20, 2016.

These 'Suicide Squad' Posters Look...Good?

I have to give the marketing team for Suicide Squad this - they’re doing something different.

As any long-term reader of this site knows, I’m pretty skeptical of how Warner Bros is handling the DC Comics Movie Universe.

That said, people thus far have been seemingly far more accepting of the forthcoming Suicide Squad movie than they have of how Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is turning out.

We’re supposed to get a brand-new trailer later tonight (which, if I’m awake, I’ll post about), but I have to say, the deluge of new posters look pretty great.

They’re not your standard photoshop mess - even the one with the cast shown has a sense of style - and I honestly really like the poster with everyone’s stylized skull design.

[gallery ids=“20753,20754,20755,20765,20757,20758,20759,20760,20761,20762,20763,20764”]

Will any of that result in a good movie? Probably not. But you can enjoy the gallery above.

Suicide Squad hits theaters on August 5, 2016.

I'm Already In Love With 'Love'

Netflix sure does look like they have another hit on their hands with Love.

Created by Judd Apatow, Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Lesley Arfin and comedian/writer Paul Rust, I’ve been anticipating the first footage of this show for some time, and I’m pleased to say, the trailer does not disappoint.

www.youtube.com/watch

Co-Starring Rust (whom I came to love via the Comedy Bang! Bang! podcast) and Community’s Gillian Jacobs, here’s how Netflix describes the show:

With a two season commitment from Netflix, it’s clear they believe in the show - and if this trailer is proof, it’s going to be a good time.

Love hits Netflix on February 19, 2016.

SURPRISE! '10 Cloverfield Lane' Is Coming

Not since Summer 2007, when Bad Robot and Paramount released the trailer for 1-18-08 have I seen movie fans so surprised, shocked, and excited. So it’s only fair that it’s about a sequel - of sorts - to Cloverfield.

Remember that amazing 1-18-08 teaser? If you don’t, here’s the trailer that had everyone wondering if a Godzilla reboot or Voltron movie was coming…

www.youtube.com/watch

Well, last night, during the first screenings for 13 Hours, the Michael Bay directed Benghazi movie, Bad Robot and Paramount had another surprise under their sleeves. It immediately broke Twitter, and lead to a number of phone shot cam versions hitting the web.

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At shortly after 3am Eastern, Paramount uploaded a proper version of the trailer to the web.

www.youtube.com/watch

So - what is 10 Cloverfield Lane? How did this get made without any of us knowing?

Let’s first look at JJ Abrams' official statement about the movie, provided to Collider:

OK, so the sequel may not be a direct one. It’s a “blood relative” - so a related idea in some way. But how did we miss such a thing being made?

Simple. You call it something else.

At one point called The Cellar, and another point called Valencia, the movie was described in the press as follows:

Well, now we know that the girl (Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) is being held captive by John Goodman (Acting’s John Goodman), and a bearded John Gallagher Jr. (The Newsroom) is there too.

Is the “terror” outside the monster from Cloverfield? We’ll find out in a few months, as the movie releases in March.

10 Cloverfield Lane hits theaters on March 11, 2016.

Incredible Classic 'Batman' LEGO Set Revealed!

Just in time for the 50th(!!!) anniversary of the 1966 Adam West-starring Batman television series, LEGO has announced a jaw-droppingly elaborate and complex set featuring that era’s Batcave, Batcopter, Bat-Bike and yes…Batmobile.

You can view a full gallery - and the official YouTube video - of the set below. It comes with 9 mini figures (including, appropriately, a mustachioed Joker), and crazy levels of detail, including a WORKING BAT POLE.

[gallery ids=“20736,20713,20714,20715,20716,20717,20718,20719,20720,20721,20722,20723,20724,20725,20726,20727,20728,20729,20730,20731,20732,20733,20735,20738”]

youtu.be/pe2n34gwn…

If you have the expendable income, this set can be yours for just shy of $270.

'The Force Awakens' Before AND After VFX

Courtesy of the official YouTube page for the Academy Awards, a VFX video for Star Wars: The Force Awakens has hit the web.

www.youtube.com/watch

I was really gobsmacked to see how many shots were in camera, and how many elements were digital. HINT: not all the ones you’d expect.

Basically, JJ Abrams did here what George Lucas and ILM did with the original trilogy. No wonder it felt so goddamned good to watch.

UPDATE: Here’s a mirror!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ5zQw6ZFqA&amp;feature=youtu.be

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is in theaters now.

Ryan Coogler to Direct 'Black Panther'

As rumored for months, but confirmed today by Marvel officially, we now have a fantastic choice for director for Black Panther

Chadwick Boseman will star in “Black Panther" after debuting as the character in the upcoming Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War,“ in theaters May 6.

After seeing Creed this past weekend and absolutely loving it, I could not be more excited to see Ryan Coogler continue to reap the benefits of his skill and talent.

Marvel might be onto something with this whole superhero movie thing. Maybe. Shame we’ve still got two years to go.

Creed (2015): A Review

2015 was a year of cinematic rebirth for major franchises. With Fury Road and The Force Awakens, the Mad Max and Star Wars films were reborn for a new generation to appreciate, with timeless installments delivered to the joy of filmgoers. With that said, having now finally seen it - the strongest rebirth this past year may’ve belonged to Creed.

Technically the seventh installment of the Rocky franchise, Creed focuses on the story of Adonis “Donnie" Johnson (Michael B. Jordan), the bastard son of legendary Rocky Balboa nemesis and friend Apollo Creed. Johnson was born shortly after Creed’s death in the ring, and after going between foster homes and juvie, is adopted in Los Angeles by Creed’s wife, Mary Anne (Phylicia Rashād).

Johnson gets to grow up with the benefits of his father’s legacy - but it’s that very same legacy which he cannot shake. So he dedicates himself to the sport of boxing, moving to Philadelphia. It’s here he decides to approach his father’s greatest opponent, Rocky Balboa (a returning Sylvester Stallone) to train him.

Creed is a movie about shadows. Johnson is looking to fight his way out of his father’s shadow, while Balboa - now in the Mickey role - is lost in the shadow of his legacy, with his wife Adrian and best friend Paulie now passed. It’s the setup for the fight of their respective lives, both literally and figuratively.

The movie that follows is incredibly enthralling. I’ve never been into boxing, and the majority of my exposure to the Rocky franchise has been one of cable television edits, but I absolutely fell in love with this movie. You feel every bump, bruise, loss, victory, sadness and celebration.

Part of why this movie works so well is the incredible casting. Michael B. Jordan has been an actor-on-the-rise for years now, and his hype comes to fruition here, as a hothead who wants to be the best he can be, and cement his own legacy. But the true triumph is in Stallone’s performance, a late-career defining role. While the Expendables franchise may have allowed him a chance to celebrate his action hero past, Creed gives Stallone a chance to be vulnerable and alive. All the word of awards is worthwhile, as this late-in-life Balboa is an incredible piece of work, and one to hang a career on. Additional credit goes to Tessa Thompson, who plays Donnie’s love interest, Bianca, a singer-songwriter that has a ticking clock of her own to worry about.

Creed also serves as the coming out party for co-writer/director Ryan Coogler. Re-teaming with the star of his debut, Fruitville Station, Coogler brings a deft hand of direction to the film. Each fight is masterfully shot and edited, and you can feel the crowd, feel the electricity, and feel every shot. It’s incredibly electric to watch. The brilliant direction is matched by a powerful score from Ludwig GÁ¶ransson. It’s not easy to follow in the iconic footsteps of Bill Conti, but GÁ¶ransson delivers a score that harkens back to the franchise’s best moments, while adding a modern edge. This is a soundtrack you’ll be revisiting, for sure.

The experience of watching Creed is one that is hard to truly describe. Incredibly enthralling, it’s a roller coaster of emotion, but you - like the films leads - feel the fight and drive to succeed along with them. This must’ve been what the original Rocky felt like 1976, and 40 years later, Creed delivers as - hands down - one of the best films of 2015. I cannot recommend it enough.

Creed is in theaters now, and is available for VOD pre-order on Amazon and iTunes.

'Inside Out' without the 'Inside'?

Something cool for Inside Out fans: what would happen if you cut out the “Inside" scenes?

vimeo.com/150483774

Turns out they still work out pretty great. University of Utah film student Jordan Hanzon put this together after a Reddit discussion, and it really shows how well thought out Pete Docter’s film was, working both “inside" and “outside".

Inside Out is available now on DVD, Blu-Ray and VOD (iTunes, Amazon).

The Hateful Eight (2015): A Review

Much of the press of Quentin Tarantino’s new film is about how he wants you to see it, not so much what you’re going to see. But I’m happy to say that once the lights dim and the movie begins - The Hateful Eight is one of Tarantino’s strongest (and harshest) films.

Set shortly after the Civil War, The Hateful Eight starts as the story of two bounty hunters. The first, Major Marquis Warren (Samuel L. Jackson) is looking to bring the bodies of three outlaws to collect his earnings in Red Rock, Colorado. Unfortunately for him, he’s stuck in a brutal Wyoming blizzard that’s only going to get worse. His luck picks up when a stagecoach crosses his path. Inside that stagecoach? John “The Hangman" Ruth (Kurt Russel). He’s also heading to Red Rock, looking to see that his alive prisoner - Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh) - hangs for her crimes. They strike up a deal, with Warren paying Ruth for his troubles, ensuring easier passage to Red Rock.

On their way to Red Rock, the storm intensifies, so too does their carriage load, as they come across Chris Mannix (Walton Goggins), who claims - to Ruth and Warren’s skepticism - he’s the new sheriff in Red Rock. As the storm gets even worse, the crew decides to stop in Minnie’s Haberdashery, a local lodge, where they find an even more motley crew. It seems Minnie left to visit her mother, leaving Bob (DemiÁ¡n Bichir), a Mexican worker; Oswaldo Mobray (Tim Roth), Red Rock’s new hangman; Joe Gage (Michael Masden), a cowboy; and Sanford Smithers (Bruce Dern), a former Confederate general. They’re all stuck in this cabin for the next few days. The blizzard is too strong. And no one can trust anyone else.

In an odd twist, Tarantino’s second western adventure (following D’jango Unchained) in many ways is similar to The Thing. It’s an intense disagreement among angry men where, clearly, multiple parties are not telling the truth. Taking from his incredible opening scene in Inglorious Basterds, Tarantino writes the movie with deft control of intensity. On paper, this is just a room filled with actors speaking to each other. In delivery, it’s an intense, dark, rage-filled film plastered with incredible performances.

Every actor in this film gives their all - Kurt Russel bringing his best John Wayne to the film, Samuel L. Jackson monologuing as only he can, Tim Roth delivering the world’s greatest Christoph Waltz impression - but the one who shines above all? Jennifer Jason Leigh. For the first two thirds of the movie, Leigh’s role is thankless - one of brutal physical humor. In the end? She might be the most vile and unstoppable of the crew.

As one would expect from Tarantino, The Hateful Eight is full of his tropes: chapter titles, unique chronology, a fetishistic love of old-school credits, in-depth discussion of race, brutal violence. But it somehow rises above much of his prior work by focusing only on human relationships. The film may last 3 hours, but it zooms by due to the incredible construction of each conversation and conflict. It’s been said that this film could work just as well as a play, and I’d love to see it hit the stage: it’s arguably Tarantino’s finest work as a writer.

One additional note: I had the luck of seeing the film in the 70mm Roadshow edition. If you can see it this way, I can’t recommend it enough. Touches such as the musical overture from Ennio Morricone really set the stage for the film, and having an honest-to-God program in hand made the screening feel like a premium experience. Is this why the audience I saw the film with was so respectful, with little conversation and no cellphone use? Perhaps. It’s amazing what happens when you can treat the theatrical experience as a privilege. It’s also worth noting that the extended 70mm frame did add to the film: it added an incredible sense of geography and depth. While many conversations were one-on-one, you could see what each of the remaining “eight" were doing in the corner. By the end, I felt like I could describe every nook of that room.

While by no means an uplifting holiday experience, The Hateful Eight delivers what Quentin Tarantino has done best since Reservoir Dogs - unique characters, incredible dialogue, and a film going experience that only he provides. Absolutely recommended - especially if you can see it as the Roadshow.

The Hateful Eight is in theaters now.

New 'Zootopia' Trailer Gives Glimpses of the Animal World

It looks like Disney is continuing their run of winning CG animated films with the latest trailer for March’s Zootopia.

www.youtube.com/watch

Having absolutely won me over with the “sloth trailer" (which I saw at my Star Wars: The Force Awakens screening), this next movie from Walt Disney Animation Studios appears to continue the hot streak of great movies they’ve had since Tangled, including Big Hero 6, Frozen and Wreck-It Ralph.

I never thought I’d say this, but recently, I’ve been anticipating some Walt Disney Animation Movies more than Pixar. Shock of shocks, right?

Also - how great is Idris Elba as a Buffalo police chief?

Zootopia hits theaters on March 4, 2016.

Nolan Heads To World War II with 'Dunkirk'

If you missed this over the Holiday break, you’re not alone: Christopher Nolan is gearing up for his next film.

Revealed by Variety on Monday:

Sources tell Variety that Nolan will direct “Dunkirk" from his own original screenplay as his next project. Insiders say the yet-to-be cast unknowns will lead the cast, but that Mark Rylance, Kenneth Branagh and Tom Hardy are in talks to join the ensemble.

Nolan will also produce the film with his longtime producing partner and wife, Emma Thomas.

Coming off of original films such as Interstellar and Inception, it’s interesting to see Nolan tackling concepts as seemingly mundane as yet another World War II movie. Sure, the film being shot in IMAX and 65mm format will add a unique visual flair, but on paper, I’m left scratching my head as to why this project gained Nolan’s focus.

That said - it’s very early, and I’m sure we’ll have a better idea once the first footage is revealed.

Dunkirk hits theaters on July 21, 2017.

First Look: Benedict Cumberbatch as 'Doctor Strange'

By the hoary hosts of Hoggoth! Benedict Cumberbatch is looking AMAZING as Doctor Strange!

Revealed yesterday by Entertainment Weekly - and promptly breaking the internet, in the best way - are these first look images from this November’s Marvel Studios release, Doctor Strange.

[gallery ids=“20676,20677,20678”]

Arguably the biggest gamble yet by Marvel to take the leap from the comic page to the silver screen, these images of Sherlock“s Cumberbatch are sure to quiet down any doubters, as this is probably the most accurate visual transition, since Robert Downey Jr’s Tony Stark/Iron Man.

That said - much like Guardians of the Galaxy and Ant-Man, Marvel has an uphill battle with general audiences here. Strange has never been a big name character, nor an overwhelming favorite in the comics world. (Full disclosure, I, a huge nerd, actually consider Doctor Strange one of my blind spots.) But I think we’ve learned at this point to not doubt what Marvel can do. They’ve been unstoppable thus far, and the wise bet is not AGAINST them.

Doctor Strange is in theaters on November 4, 2016.

Merry Christmas! Here's 2 New DEADPOOL Trailers!

This Christmas, nerds everywhere were waiting for a special gift from the jolly man in the red suit.

No, not Santa Claus - DEADPOOL! And he delivered, giving us not just one, but TWO new trailers for his forthcoming film, hitting theaters this February.

www.youtube.com/watch

www.youtube.com/watch

With two flavors for audiences young and old, it’s very clear that this R-rated take on the fourth-wall breaking hero will be heading straight for the crass humor. That said, it’s definitely the most delighted that Ryan Reynolds has appeared on screen in ages.

I’m hoping that the humor isn’t as simple and obvious throughout, but seeing how Deadpool interacts with other characters (like the WAY obscure pull of Negasonic Teenage Warhead!) gives me some hope. What say you, gentle reader?

Deadpool hits theaters on February 12, 2016.

Radiohead Reveals Rumored 'SPECTRE' Theme

Last Summer, out of the blue, Radiohead became a front-runner to be the musician(s) picked to perform the theme for the then-upcoming James Bond film, SPECTRE.

As we all know, the final nod went to fellow Brit Sam Smith…but what if Radiohead really was in the mix? Could such a thing exist? A Radiohead performed James Bond theme?

On Christmas, we found out it was indeed true.

Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke took to Twitter on Christmas with a special gift for fans of both the rock band and the super spy, linking to a free download of “Spectre” hosted on Soundcloud, their unused theme song.

twitter.com/thomyorke…

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Sounding about exactly as you’d expect from a Radiohead James Bond theme, it’s equally sad and bombastic…and personally, I prefer it to Sam Smith’s theme, even if Smith’s sounds more “Bond-y”.

That said, the Radiohead version DOES sync up pretty great with the opening credits of the film.

www.youtube.com/watch

SPECTRE is still in theaters now. Radiohead is currently working on their ninth album, with no release date announced.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015): A Review

32 years after Return of the Jedi, and 10 years after Revenge of the Sith, director JJ Abrams does what we thought impossible and, alongside Disney and the new Lucasfilm, restarted Star Wars for a new generation.

This is The Force Awakens.

Appropriately set 30-some-odd years after the events of Jedi, The Force Awakens thrusts us back in to the galaxy far, far away. The war between the Rebels and the Empire ended, but clearly set another conflict into motion. It’s a story that sends us into new planets, new scenery, and appropriately, with new heroes.

Much like 1977’s A New Hope, The Force Awakens is built around a trilogy of heroes. We have Finn (Attack The Block’s John Boyega - affecting an American accent), a young man who wishes to be something better than he is in this world, but scared of the outcomes. We have Poe Dameron (Ex-Machina’s Oscar Issac), a cock-sure, cool as a cucumber pilot. And most intriguingly, we have Rey (newcomer Daisy Ridley), a desert scavenger, looking for adventure and carrying a mysterious past. You’re going to love each one the same way you did Han, Leia and Luke - even though they don’t fit the expected archetypes. Each captivates the screen, and their chemistry is fantastic.

But what’s smart - if not expected - is how these characters fit into the existing universe. To add weight to the proceedings for the new generation of fans, and act as an entry point for fans of the existing saga, we get to catch up with our old favorites: Han, Chewie, Leia, C—3PO and R2D2. Harrison Ford is the most engaged he’s been on-screen in decades as an older and wiser Solo. Clearly, he found something here that he’d been missing. Carrie Fisher looks great and adds appropriate gravitas as Leia, and of course, Chewie and C—3PO add the necessary comic relief (that is, when BB—8 - who is sure to be your new favorite droid - isn’t stealing the show.)

Where the movie takes a different turn is with our villains, or as they’re called now - The First Order. Lead baddie Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) is much like his custom lightsaber: fractured and unstable. Anyone who has seen his work on Girls probably knows that Driver can play creepy, gross and evil, and he does it well here. Domhnall Gleeson’s Admiral Hux seems to be a modern day Grand Moff Tarkin, but he gets to chew all kinds of scenery, as a gloriously old-school style baddie.

To say much more would go into spoiler territory, and I promise you - I won’t. But I’m pleased to say that beyond the shadow of a doubt, The Force Awakens is the Star Wars movie you’re looking for. Feeling like an incredible comeback album from one of your favorite bands, JJ Abrams delivers for Star Wars what he did with the 2009 Star Trek reboot - a fresh, energetic rejuvenation of a beloved franchise. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll cheer - and if the sold-out opening night crowd response was any indication, leave the theater absolutely jublient.

Every single frame is filled with love. The “worn-in" reality of the Star Wars universe is back, beautifully juxtaposed with the stark nature of The First Order’s Nazi Germany meets Apple aesthetic. Creatures both practical and CGI fill the screen (and the CGI is beautiful, with two motion-capture based characters delivering bleeding edge tech so great, you forget they’re not real.) John Williams delivers the trademark Star Wars sound. All the classic wipes and transitions are to be found. The “Abrams Lens Flare” is there, but thankfully under control. There are also some great cameos and easter eggs throughout - you’re going to be looking everywhere during the many times you see this movie in the theaters and, eventually, at home.  It’s an absolutely stellar 136 minutes of whiz-bang adventure.

After the prequels ended, fans never really knew if the Star Wars they loved would return, or if it did, what shape it would take. Thankfully, with The Force Awakens, it returns in a form to be beloved by fans both old and new. While the last thing the Internet needs is another article ranking a film series, I’ll be so bold as to suggest that The Force Awakens hangs with the original trilogy in quality. Thank you, JJ.

Now bring on Episode VIII.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is in theaters now.

New Character Posters from Paul Feig's 'Ghostbusters'!

Character posters have arrived for the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot!

Coming off of yesterday’s promo image, a series of character posters - one for each “buster” - have been scattered across the web.

[gallery columns=“4” ids=“20657,20656,20655,20654”]

Luckily for you, I gathered them all together in the above gallery.

They all look slick, fierce and ready to take out some ghosts!

I definitely think we may get a teaser trailer WAY soon. Here’s hoping like Spy and Bridesmaids, Paul Feig delivers another great comedy.

Ghostbusters hits theaters on July 15, 2016.

Wonder Woman Shines In New 'Batman v Superman' Posters

These posters are better than the last trailer!

Released online yesterday, Warner Bros has unveiled three brand-new character posters for Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. Showcasing individual looks at an armored-up Ben Affleck as Batman and a rage-filled Henry Cavill as Superman, the real highlight is the individual poster for Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman.

[gallery ids=“20646,20647,20649”]

I’ve been skeptical of how Gadot is going to turn out as Wonder Woman, but I have to be honest - this is her best look yet. She looks great in this poster, and I’m starting to believe she may be the best part of the film.

Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice hits theaters on March 25, 2016.

Paul Feig's 'Ghostbusters' Revealed!

Kate McKinnon looks like the coolest, right?

Shared all across the web yesterday, starting with this tweet from Ghostbusters fansite Planet Ghostbusters, is what is being called the “first official image" from director Paul Feig’s female-lead Ghostbusters reboot.

Now, I’m gonna question that sentence, considering Feig himself had revealed an image of the team previously, but it doesn’t hide the fact that - honestly, this looks good.

Melissa McCarthy is playing the buttoned up nerdy type (who I will imagine falls into rage), Kate McKinnon is channelling a Real Ghostbusters era Egon and is just effortlessly cool, Kristen Wiig is looking straight badass, and Leslie Jones looks like, simply, that she will mess you up.

I’m way into it. But when should we expect a teaser trailer?

Ghostbusters hits theaters July 15, 2016.

Jimmy Fallon & The Roots Celebrate 'Star Wars'

I guess everyone is excited about Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Airing during last night’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy and his house band, The Roots (a fact that is still odd to me, all these years later) reinterpreted the classic Star Wars theme song - along with some of the more popular themes - in acapella style.

The Brady Bunch style video also includes some cameos, and is a great way to start your morning.

www.youtube.com/watch

Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits theaters this Friday, with early screenings Thursday evening. The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon airs weeknights on NBC.

'Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them' Announcement Trailer Arrives

Remember when trailers were little more than a glimpse at a film? Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them remembers.

www.youtube.com/watch

Another big-time trailer released just in time to (possibly) be attached to Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Warner Bros teases us all with our return to JK Rowling’s wizarding world in Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them.

That said, there isn’t much here. Clearly, there are monsters (which we do not see), clearly, there is magic, and the 1920’s New York setting is a unique one, but besides that and a glimpse at Eddie Redmayne and Katherine Waterston in costume, that’s all you’re getting. That’s OK, they have almost a year.

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them hits theaters on November 18, 2016.

2 Fast, 2 Furious, 3 Trek: 'Star Trek Beyond' Trailer Revealed!

Paramount wanted a big time, fun action Star Trek film to get some of that Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy audience. Looks like Star Trek Beyond will be that film, if it’s first trailer is any indication.

www.youtube.com/watch

Hitting the web earlier today after a German-language leak, our first glimpse at the third installment of the rebooted Trek franchise, as directed by Fast & Furious' Justin Lin and scripted by Simon Pegg and Doug Jung, is definitely not your standard Star Trek film.

We’ve got explosions, we’ve got quips, we’ve got crazy alien makeup, and yes…BMX RIDING KIRK!

From what I’ve seen on social media today, long-time Trek fans are pretty miffed by the results, but personally? I think this will be a super fun sci-fi romp, a’la 2009’s reboot - sorely needed after Star Trek Into Darkness went dark and retreaded Wrath of Kahn. Heck, we’ve even got a reprise of Beastie Boys' “Sabotage”, a “classic rock” song which scored Young Kirk’s joyride in the first JJ Abrams film.

I think Star Trek Beyond is going to be a nice shot in the arm for the franchise, and future trailers will pan out to this being a great bit of blockbuster filmmaking. But based on fan response so far: is the path to a Billion Dollars one made of broken dreams by Paramount?

Star Trek Beyond hits theaters on July 22, 2016.

'Independence Day: Resurgence' Trailer ACTUALLY Looks Good!?

All those who expected the Independence Day sequel to look good - raise your hand? Yeah, not many of you.

www.youtube.com/watch

I know I certainly wasn’t one of them - but today (ahead of its official premiere in front of Star Wars: The Force Awakens), 20th Century Fox has released the trailer for Independence Day: Resurgence, the sequel to the 1996 alien invasion blockbuster.

I am dumbfounded to say how actually great this looks. It’s very, very clear that Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin understand exactly what made Independence Day so great, and are taking it to the next level here. Considering how awful their Godzilla was, I can’t say I expected this.

Most of the cast is returning - with Will Smith a very noticable hold out, who I can’t wait to see how they write around - but this looks like some big, dumb, explosive Summer fun. Basically, exactly the type of thrill ride you want when you throw down the cash at your local cineplex. I am, shocking even myself, really looking forward to this after this trailer.

As a bonus? Check out the The War of 1996 site created to detail the world in the twenty years since the original film. It’s actually a fun bit of alt-reality fiction.

Independence Day: Resurgence hits theaters on June 24, 2016.

SNL Skewers Nerds With Faux 'Star Wars' Ad

OK, Saturday Night Live, you got us.

www.youtube.com/watch

Airing last night during the episode hosted by Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth (promoting the movie I refuse to see due to my drowning fears, In The Heart of the Sea), SNL absolutely nailed the world of adult Star Wars toy collectors with this ad designed for fans ages 6…and way up.

And honestly, it’s not wrong - even speaking as a nerd who has a few Force Awakens action figures himself. But let’s all remember the key: if we’re gonna be nerds, let’s go full force…let’s open those packages, yeah?

'Kubo and the Two Strings' Teaser Trailer: A Beautiful Glimpse of Laika's Next

Laika has created some beautiful movies thus far, but it appears their fourth film may be their most stunning - if the first teaser trailer for Kubo and the Two Strings is any indication.

www.youtube.com/watch

A teaser in every sense of the word, this first glimpse indicates that the stop-motion house will bring their same sense of style and beauty to Asian culture, as they did a young girl’s nightmares in Coraline, the paranormal in Paranorman, and a bunch of lovely trolls in The Boxtrolls (a film I still need to see).

Not due in theaters until late next Summer, Kubo is high up on my list of must sees for 2016, and with a stacked voice cast including George Takei, Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey, Rooney Mara and Ralph Fiennes, clearly, others are looking to be a part of something special.

Here’s the official synopsis:

Kubo and the Two Strings hits theaters on August 19, 2016.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015): A Review

Woefully underappreciated during it’s theatrical release, I finally had a chance to check out The Man from U.N.C.L.E. on VOD over this weekend, and I have to say - we all really missed out.

Directed by Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes), after a long and ardous trip to the big screen, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is an incredibly stylish retro spy flick. Starring Henry Cavill (Man of Steel) as CIA agent Napoleon Solo, the film takes our sly agent and places him in an unheard of situation in the Cold War - teaming with a Russian agent, Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer, he of Winklevoss Twin fame in The Social Network).

Why the cooperation between the USA and Russia? Nazi’s of course. Solo and Kuryakin are chosen to protect Gaby Teller (Ex-Machina’s Alicia Vikander). Teller is the daughter of an ex-Nazi scientist turned American informant, Udo Teller, who is in too deep with the Vinciguerra’s, a wealthy couple who intend to build a nuclear weapon to assist the remaining members of the Nazi party.

But, really - who cares? It’s all about the action and style in this fun, flighty romp of a movie. (And honestly, I had to look back to be able to recite that level of the plot. Even the cast seems apt to just go along for the ride.) What The Man from U.N.C.L.E. really is, is an excuse for Ritchie and his cast to have some 1960’s era, super cool looking, super cool sounding spy fun, and with that in mind, the movie completely succeeds.

Running a brisk 116 minutes, we move from stylish set-piece to stylish set-piece, slowly down only to take in scenes of 1960’s era Europe (beautifully shot by cinematographer John Mathieson), and enjoy some dry laughs from witty dialogue, provided by Lionel Wigram, who co-wrote with Ritchie. It’s all set to a wonderful score by Daniel Pemberton, and is sure to leave you feeling delighted.

This isn’t a movie that re-defines spy films, nor is it one that will last long in your brain, but it is one that you’ll have a blast with. Sure, the ending is a little overblown, but the ride there is so delightful, it’s hard to be bothered.

Available on VOD, DVD and Blu-Ray now, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is a good time of a movie worth taking in. If you want something fun for a breezy weekend watch, this is the one to check out. Enjoy.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is available now on VOD (iTunes, Amazon), and on DVD or Blu-Ray.

'X-Men: Apocalypse' Trailer: There's Not A Lot of There, There

The X-Men franchise has been a mixed bag of films, but has been on a hot streak since flashing back with 2011’s First Class.

This May, the mutants enter a stacked Summer of superhero films with X-Men: Apocalypse, and the first trailer is here.

www.youtube.com/watch

I’ll admit, what we see here is pretty decent, and I’m very into Oscar Issac’s Apocalypse, but the rest just feels…off.

One of the strengths of First Class and Days of Future Past was the relationship of James McAvoy’s Charles Xavier and Michael Fassbender’s Magneto, which appears to be lost here, and it’s quite clear that Jennifer Lawrence is just completing her contractual commitment as Mystique, as she doesn’t even appear to be bothering with the blue makeup this time around. Shame, as she’s usually such a highlight.

There’s also the question of how the timelines work now. Following First Class and Days of Future Past, we get the 1980’s-era here in Apocalypse, and in turn, a new Jean Grey (Game of Thrones' Sophie Turner) and new Cyclops (Tye Sheridan), and new Storm (Alexandra Shipp, love the mohawk), among others - so do X-Men, X2 and X3 just not exist anymore?

On the positive side, Rose Byrne is always a welcome vision, and McAvoy is rocking the cue-ball look.

It’s a mixed bag so far, and the trailer doesn’t really impress, but based on the strength of the other two films of this trilogy, I am in. Will that be enough to counter Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Captain America: Civil War? We shall see.

X-Men: Apocalypse hits on May 27, 2016, just in time for Memorial Day.

'The Nice Guys' Just Became Your Next Most-Anticipated Film

One of my favorite movies of all-time, full stop, is Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

That’s why I’m so gosh darned excited to share with you the first trailer for Shane Black’s next film, The Nice Guys, due to hit theaters next Summer.

Filling a similar vein to that of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, The Nice Guys is story built around two odd characters brought together to solve a mystery.

Russell Crowe stars as Jackson Healy (who seems to be a man you go to when you want to send a message), Ryan Gosling stars as PI Holland March (who seems to be a total screw up), and if this trailer is any indication, a red-band edition filled with bad language, gore, and even a little bit of nudity, everything goes terribly wrong in a great way. Would you expect anything less from Shane Black?

www.youtube.com/watch

In short - I CAN’T WAIT FOR THIS MOVIE! (It’s also nice to see KIm Basinger get work again.)

The Nice Guys hits theaters on May 20, 2016.

New 'Batman v. Superman' Trailer Gives Away The Whole Movie

Overnight, on an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Ben Affleck revealed the new trailer for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

And oh man, is it weird. And spoiler-filled.

youtu.be/fis-9Zqu2…

I’m not sure who decided that we needed to have the whole plot of the movie revealed to us, but sure enough here we are.

If I have it correctly, the beats of the movie are:

It doesn’t look all bad. The action looks impressive, as we’d expect from Zack Snyder, and I do continue to like Ben Affleck’s Batman, but I’m iffy on the rest. Superman seems like a big blue jerk, the whole thing feels SUPER dour, and the Zod/Doomsday thing feels like one plotline too many.

That said - I can’t wait for Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor to take up ALL the scenery. At least he’ll grab more of the screen than Clark’s glasses. Jesus they’re huge.

Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice hits theaters on March 25, 2016.

The Night Before (2015): A Review

In 2011, director Jonathan Levine (The Wackness) teamed with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen to bring us the phenomenal cancer dramedy 50/50. This holiday, they’ve re-teamed to bring us The Night Before, a Christmas-themed story of three friend’s holiday tradition - and while it’s not anywhere near as great as 50/50, it still resonates as a heartfelt, raunchy Christmas comedy.

The Night Before gives us the 15th year of an annual tradition - long-time friends Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Issac (Seth Rogen) and Chris (Anthony Mackie) have always spent Christmas Eve together, a bond created after Ethan’s parents died. Now, the gentlemen are older and wiser - Issac’s about to be a father, Chris is a big-time football player, and the time has arrived for one last blow out.

I wouldn’t blame you if after seeing the trailers for The Night Before, you considered it a Christmas-themed offshoot of The Hangover. In some ways it shares a similar DNA. There’s raunchy humor, there’s drugs, there’s absolutely ridiculous situations. But what is truly surprising is the weight and heart of the film. Without spoiling too much, the film adds necessary depth to the three friends. You can figure that from the origins of their holiday tradition, Ethan, Issac and Chris have bigger things on their mind, and they really do - and the movie handles each bump and bruise with surprising maturity, even if its then tempered with a dick or weed joke.

A key to the film is the chemistry, and thankfully, our three leads have it. Rogen and Gordon-Levitt continue the great relationship they had on-screen in 50/50, and Anthony Mackie shows strong comedic chops here - it’s nice to see him in a comedic role, and I hope he gets to shine in another soon. They’re surrounded by a great supporting cast, as well, including Workaholics’ Jillian Bell as Issac’s pregnant wife, Lizzy Caplan as a lost love of Ethan, and even a nice role for Broad City’s Ilana Glazer. The real surprise of the film? Michael Shannon, as Mr. Green - a surreal yet prophetic weed dealer, who seems to have a bit more depth to his role (hint: it’s very A Christmas Carol.) It was also great to hear Tracy Morgan doing the narration for the film.

You won’t be calling The Night Before the year’s greatest comedy, or an absolutely blow away time at the movies, but it delivers in spades as a holiday film worth revisiting, with a bared, filthy heart.

'Captain America: Civil War' Trailer Hits All The Right Notes

Overnight, Marvel Studios gave fans around the globe a reason to be thankful - the offical premiere for the trailer for Captain America: Civil War.

Hitting Jimmy Kimmel Live and then the internet shortly thereafter, I’m very pleased to say that Civil War continues in the Marvel Cinematic Universe tradition of taking the name or concept of a classic Marvel story and working it to fit the framework of what they’ve built over an incredible thirteen films.

www.youtube.com/watch

Directed by the Russo Brothers, Civil War also seems to be doing the heavy lifting of being more a sequel to Captain America: The Winter Solider, and less a third Avengers film, if you can believe it. What’s even more damning for their Distinguished Competition? Because we’ve seen these characters grow together, laugh together, and become a team together, the stakes seem higher with lines that may feel melodramatic otherwise - like Tony’s “I was your friend".

It really separates the Caps and Iron Men from the Bats and Supermen…

Captain America: Civil War its theaters on May 6, 2016.

Spectre (2015): A Review

After the smash success of 2012’s Skyfall, marking 50 years of James Bond, director Sam Mendes (American Beauty) and star Daniel Craig reteam for Spectre.

Serving as Craig’s fourth outing as Bond - and the first invoking the namesake terrorist group which perplexed Bond in the classic films - the stakes are high. Does the film match the heights of its pedigree? Is Spectre another Bond classic?

The answer: Not quite.

Striking to pull together the continuity of the prior films (Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, and Skyfall), the movie kicks off with an absolutely brilliant sequence in Mexico City during the Day of the Dead celebration. Bond is following up on a lead left to him by the now-deceased M. Of course, in the fashion set by Daniel Craig’s version of the spy - the action sequence ends in a ragged harsh way, bringing heat upon MI—6.

It couldn’t be a worse time for Bond to bring scrutiny to MI—6 and the 00 Project, as the British Government is looking to shut it down, instead focusing on an all encompassing drone and surveillance project, called 9 Eyes, lead by the cocky Max Denbigh (Sherlock’s Andrew Scott).

Officially grounded after the Mexico City mixup, Bond - in traditional Bond fashion - chooses to go rogue and follow the lead of M, following a trail of mysteries and death, all pointing to a mysterious group…SPECTRE.

The movie that follows, unfortunately, has one of the worst sins a world-trotting spy film can commit…it’s not terribly engaging.

The movie has all the right ingredients: Christoph Waltz as the mysterious leader of SPECTRE; two incredible Bond Girls in the beautiful (and appropriately aged!) Monica Bellucci and the sultry and independent LÁ©a Seydoux; the wonderful MI—6 supporting cast of Ralph Fiennes’ Mallory, Rory KInnear’s Bill Tanner, Ben Whishaw’s Q, and Naomie Harris’ Eve Moneypenny; even Dave Bautista is an awesome henchman as Mr. Hinx - but Spectre never really gives any of these elements the environment within which to deliver. The action sequences (beyond the amazing Mexico City opener) never feel exciting - just that they’re happening, and we’re seeing them.

Spectre isn’t all bad. The score, by Thomas Newman (also returning from Skyfall) is great. The opening credits sequence is beautiful and surreal (and vastly improves Sam Smith’s theme in context). The cinematography is lovely, another feast for the eyes - this time by Her’s Hoyte van Hoytema. Heck, even for as much as the Craig continuity can drag down Spectre at times, pulling in classic Bond tropes are the moments where the movie is at its most fun.

I truly went into Spectre wanting an exciting, engaging, and beautifully shot spy film. Unfortunately, the one I got was beautiful - but never got into high gear. The movie does a wonderful job of tying up the Craig Bond legacy. Perhaps this is the time to lay his run to rest. Spectre isn’t awful. It’s not terrible. It’s not horrible. It’s just OK.

Spectre is in theaters now.

Steve Jobs (2015): A Review

When painting a portrait, the artist is giving the eventual viewer an impression of its subject within a moment of time. We do not see all of their heights, nor all of their lows. We do not see all of their sadness, nor all of their triumphs. It’s not their best days, it’s not their worst. It is a moment preserved.

Based (loosely) on Walter Issacson’s book of the same name - Steve Jobs, written by Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network) and directed by Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire) is not a bio-pic proper. It is a portrait - and as a viewer, it’s a heck of a one to take in.

Steve Jobs is a divisive character in history. Many laud him as a genius, but just as many call him a prick. But it’s difficult to deny his place in history. This review was started on an iPhone, finished on a MacBook. And I’m sure countless other articles about Jobs and this film will have Apple products used in them somewhere. His driven vision has defined the current age of computing - and appropriately, Sorkin and Doyle have decided to give us a version of the man that may not be accurate to history, but instead is accurate to his legend.

It’s not far fetched to say that this movie has as much truth in it as Sorkin’s The Social Network did to the realities of the creation of Facebook. But it uses the real life story to build a portrait of a difficult man trying to create an uncompromised vision, no matter how many compromises they make along the way. The three act structure is used to show Jobs at three key moments of his life - the unveiling of the Macintosh in 1984, the reveal of the NeXT computer in 1988, and the ascendance of Apple in 1998 with the reveal of the iMac.

Almost like a technology based version of A Christmas Story, in each era, Jobs is met with the ghosts of his past. His loyal partner, Woz. His tormented programmer, Andy Hertzfled. His father figure, Apple CEO John Sculley. His estranged ex-girlfriend, Chrisann, and the girl that may be his daughter, Lisa.

These are the prisms that we view Jobs through. With the always quotable, always moving Aaron Sorkin dialogue, we see relationships change and florish. Moments go from tense to sad. Sad to hopeful. Anger to genius. And every moment is captivating.

It’s odd to speak of the “plot" of the film, as ostensibly, there isn’t one. These are scenes from a man’s life, and while interstitial montages help explain the passage of time (of note, seeing the classic Simpsons “Eat Up Martha" scene on the big screen was surreal), we just get to live in these moments.

Steve Jobs delivers its cast an absolute feast of acting. Seth Rogen is wonderful and heartbreaking as the teddy bear-esq co-founder of Apple. Jeff Daniels brings his The Newsroom gravitas to John Sculley. And Kate Winslet gives a fantastic performance as Jobs’ “work wife", Joanna Hoffman. But none of it would work without the amazing connective tissue of Michael Fassbender’s performance as Steve Jobs. He is an unbearable prick, an amazing genius, and incredibly captivating every minute he’s on screen. You will rarely love and hate a performance as strongly as this one. It’s incredible work from an incredibly underrated actor.

Special kudos must go to the intelligent production process of the film - to give the movie’s eras each a unique feel, each segment was shot on different film stocks. 1984 in 16mm, 1988 in 35mm, 1998 in digital. Its an inspired move that pays off wonderfully - a phrase that can describe many elements of this unique bio-pic.

While Steve Jobs is just a collection of moments, its an enthralling one. Electric performances and elegant direction combining into an engaging film. You can quibble on the history, but the legend of Jobs - as presented here - is one that will live on, in a movie you won’t soon forget.

Steve Jobs is in theaters now.

KICKSTART THIS!: 'Mana War' - A Deceptively Simple Fantasy Card Game

Believe it or not, for as much of a nerd as I am, I never really got into the role-playing world of Dungeons & Dragons, or the card collecting bonanza of Magic: The Gathering.

While I love to read, watch, and play through stories of mystical worlds and incredible powers, when it comes to these two staples of the fantasy fandom, I found the gameplay difficult, intense, and far more in-depth than I was willing to partake in.

That’s where Mana War comes in.

Currently being Kickstarted, Mana War is a deceptively simple card game. Very akin to a deck of basic playing cards, Mana War simplifies the concepts of fantasy into five basic suits - Sun, Water, Fire, Rock, and Leaf - with 10 of each. The card set then comes with directions for four, easy, pick up and play card games, which you can then play with groups as small as two, or as many as six players.

This is where Mana War is such a clever game. In my time with a pre-release copy of the card set, the most seasoned and least traveled of game players were at an equal playing field - giving the fantasy feel for veterans of countless board and card games, while providing an open accessibility to those newer to the ever addicting world of traditional games.

Further more, with such a simple deck of cards, Mana War is designed to be used in countless house games, or perhaps as a nice addition to your current role playing games.

The KickStarter itself runs through November 19th, 2015, and a copy of the game can be backed for as little as $10. If you’re looking for a unique card set to spice up your game night, Mana War is the way to go.

NOTE: A pre-release copy of the game was provided for this write up.

The Final Trailer for 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'

Tonight, as promised, during Monday Night Football, the final trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens premiered as servers everywhere crashed as tickets went on sale.

www.youtube.com/watch

As somewhat expected with a JJ Abrams film, the trailer is still keeping many things under wraps, but it does set the stage for three of the major motivations for this post Return of the Jedi world.

We have Rey, a desert scavenger caught up in something greater than she anticipated.

We have Finn, a Stormtrooper gone rogue, hoping to be something more.

We have Kylo Ren, leader of the First Order, looking to finish the job that the Empire…and more importantly, Darth Vader started.

From the bits of dialogue we get from Han Solo, it sounds like that Jedis and the Dark Side are the stuff of legend. And on December 18th, we get to see it rise again.

60 days to go.

The Martian (2015): A Review

With Alien and Blade Runner, director Ridley Scott came of age, giving us visions of space and the future that were nightmarish and bleak, respectively. Now, over thirty years later, Scott has returned to the realm of sci-fi, and instead delivered us a vision of adventure, human ingenuity, and most importantly - hope. This is The Martian.

Based off of the 2011 novel by Andy Weir, The Martian takes place in the not-too-distant future. A group of NASA astronauts, lead by Commander Melissa Lewis (Jessica Chastain), are part of a mission to Mars - the Ares III. This mission includes living on the surface of Mars for an extended period of time, and collecting samples of the red planet’s surface. During their mission, a strong sandstorm arrives - causing the crew of the Ares III to need to abandon the planet early - and in the chaos and confusion of the storm, astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is killed. The surviving five members of the mission set course for a return to Earth, traumatized by the loss of their friend and cohort.

The twist? Mark didn’t actually die. And now, he has to find a way to keep living.

A tale of survival and adventure, a’la Robinson Crusoe or the Tom Hanks favorite Cast Away, we see Watney do his best to survive on the planet Mars - doing everything from learning how to repurpose their Mars base as a greenhouse (to grow food), to discovering how to re-establish contact with NASA back on Earth. It’s an engrossing, science filled romp, which keeps the tone light, as Watney, a natural smart-ass, keeps a video journal of his experience on Mars - ultimately to keep himself sane (and keep the audience entertained). His story is then quickly juxtaposed with the NASA - and eventual worldwide - response to his survival on Earth, and the shocked response of his fellow Ares III crew members. The film is equal parts small and large scale, hilarious and serious, adventure filled and introspective. It also probably has the most appropriate use of a PG—13 “fuck" ever.

The script by Drew Goddard (The Cabin in the Woods) is quick-witted, smart and engaging, giving Ridley Scott an incredible canvas to build upon. Unlike 2012’s Prometheus, The Martian gives Scott a clear story to work with, and he wears the optimistic glow of the story well. Shot in the Wadi Rum in Jordan, the movie is beautifully photographed by Dariusz Wolski (Pirates of the Caribbean), and enhanced with just enough CGI to give it the proper “other worldly" feel.

The cast is an absolute murderer’s row of actors. Anchored by Matt Damon, whose natural charisma is an incredible asset in what is at times a one-man show, the cast shines all around, including Jeff Daniels (using his The Newsroom gravitas as the director of NASA), 12 Years a Slaves Chiwetel Ejiofor as NASA Mission Director, Kristen Wiig almost going against type as the head of NASA PR, Donald Glover (Community) as a quirky astronomer, and the crew of the Ares III, which includes the aforementioned Chastain, Tumblr favorite Sebastian Stan, House of Cards’ Kate Mara, the always enjoyable Michael PeÁ±a, and Norwegian actor Aksel Hennie. I’d be remiss if I didn’t make special mention of Benedict Wong, primarily known for his British television work, who is absolutely fantastic as the put-on-upon head of the JPL, and Sean Bean, who has probably the most self-referential scene of his career. Really, if there was any complaint for me, it would be the underuse of Halt And Catch Fire’s Mackenzie Davis as Mission Control satellite planner Mindy Park. She’s a captivating presence on the show, and given the character’s importance within the source material, it was a shame to see the role lessened.

The Martian completes a psuedo-trilogy of space exploration films the past few Falls at the cinema. 2013 brought us the Capital-I-Intense Gravity, 2014 the Capital-I-Important Interstellar (which also gave us Matt Damon stranded in space), and this would be the Capital-I-Intelligent installment. True to the novel, The Martian is about process and effort, trial and error, and the scientific process. But for a book that was very jargon heavy, the prose came across even better in translation, as the efforts of Watney to keep hope (and himself) alive on Mars are streamlined for audience understanding and appeal. Fans of the book will notice that certain third act elements were cut, and ultimately make the film more palpable, making for a great adaptation.

The Martian supposes a world with greater interest in space exploration, one where the world’s governments can work together, and most importantly, proper planning, hard work, and intelligence can trump any adversity. It’s an incredibly optimistic vision from a director, whom at times, has brought us some of the bleakest. And as an adventure light years away from home, The Martian is a captivating cinema experience, and one of the year’s - if not the decade’s - best films.

In short, The Martian is why I love movies. Highest possible recommendation.

The Martian is in theaters now, and is available for pre-order via iTunes.

15 Years On: Radiohead's 'Kid A'

On October 4th, 2000, I turned 16 years old.

I was a junior in high school. I was crazy in love with my first real girlfriend.

But what I wanted for my birthday - more than anything else - was a copy of Radiohead’s new album, Kid A.

I had stayed up late, the Sunday before. Our local alternative rock station, the legendary WHFS 99.1, was one of many stations simulcasting a “world premiere" of the new Radiohead album. Being able to lay in bed, listening to the new Radiohead followed by a live west coast edition of Loveline? What more could a teenager want?

While reception in my bedroom was spotty, what I was able to hear absolutely melted my brain. While Radiohead hadn’t done much for me with their first two albums - I felt “Creep" was overplayed, and I thought that “Fake Plastic Trees" song was whiney - I fell head over heels for OK Computer, mostly on the strength of the epic, chorus-less single “Paranoid Android", and its Liquid Television-esq animated video.

I remember catching pieces of Meeting People Is Easy on MTV, surprised to find a band so miserable at the height of their fame. Their lives seemed dark, difficult, muddied. Little did I know what they intended to release onto the world.

My interest piqued, my parents knew the one thing I really wanted for my birthday was a copy of that album. They were surprised. I was a gamer, a toy collector, a comic collector. Of so many options, what I really wanted was an album?

I came home from school on my birthday, and wrapped with a lovely card (and alongside a Subway 12" Turkey Sub, my favorite meal at the time…why I remember this, I have no idea.) was this album. Kid A.

Its artwork was stark. Even the packaging was unique. A glossy black edge to the CD case at the side. I quickly slid open the plastic, ran into my room, and placed the album in my mid-range teenager stereo.

10 tracks*, 49 minutes and 57 seconds later, I wasn’t the same listener.

Again and again and again I replayed that album.

I shared it with my then-girlfriend, I’m not sure if she loved it as much as I did, but I could tell she knew the CD had a very special place for me.

The brilliant introduction of “Everything In Its Right Place". The warm ambience of “Kid A". The thumping bass and cacophony of horns of “The National Anthem". The loss and abandonment of “How to Disappear Completely" - I’m sure my teenage brain loved it. The calm ambience of “Treefingers". The nervous and driving guitars of “Optimistic" - the only song “safe" enough for radio play. The sea of sound of “In Limbo". The frantic dance feel of “Idioteque". The way “Morning Bell" came up on you from behind. The coda of “Motion Picture Soundtrack".

It was unlike anything I’d ever listened to before. It was oblique, it was difficult. It was like joining a secret club and being able to hear the future. This must’ve been what it was like for my parent’s generation to hear The Wall.

There was so much smoke and mirrors around the band, around this album. The excitement, the impact - I’m not sure if I had felt anything like it before, and I’m pretty sure I’ve been chasing it in music ever since.

Before Kid A, I’m not sure I fell in love with an album as a statement - as opposed to a collection of songs. The closest that I had come was the fall prior, with the 1999 release of Nine Inch Nails’ The Fragile - an album I loved, but like with most double albums, felt like there was too much to digest.

Now - 15 years on - it’s amazing how much the album still feels alive to me. It’s not a snapshot of the past as so many are to me, but its still a driving image of the future. I can hear the bands I’d later fall in love with - the ambience of Aphex Twin and Tycho; the important, delicate guitars of The Appleseed Cast and Explosions in the Sky; the mystery and theatricality of Arcade Fire. But even still, it blows me away that an album of such permanence came alive in my time.

When I think of albums that changed the world - they’re all before my time, the aforementioned The Wall, The White Album, countless others. But Kid A was made by real, living breathing people still making music today in my time. And every second of it still holds up as a moment of genius.

I’m not a person who considers this Radiohead’s peak. If pressed, I find In Rainbows to be their best album, but there’s no doubt that Kid A changed my perception of music as art, in a way that will never happen again.

When now in this world would we be shocked by an artist’s departure and change? When now would we as an audience hold our breath and be surprised by what a band has in-store for us? Hell - I still remember, almost a year later, only then discovering the hidden second booklet behind the disc holder. Hundreds of listens later, Radiohead’s Kid A was still surprising me.

And today - 15 years later, as I stream it through Apple Music - it still grabs my attention in the way a 16 year old me was drawn in.

Happy Birthday, Kid A. You grow greater with age.

*Not including the untitled, brief, hidden track.

Why I No Longer Pirate

I’m not sure if it’s old age, having regular income, or what, but I’ve made the decision to stop pirating media.

And maybe, just maybe, none of us have an excuse to anymore.

I’ll never forget the first time I used Napster. A literal universe of music accessible at my fingertips. Type in a song, an artist - and BOOM! - a wealth of audio riches descended upon me. And it was so easy, and on my cousin’s Cable internet connection, incredibly fast.

I’d be lying if I said that Napster wasn’t a key part of a teenaged-me’s argument to his parents about why we needed to upgrade from Erol’s dialup to the new, blazing fast Comcast cable internet.

As soon as we had it, I was hooked, downloading Weezer b-sides and rare demos alongside the cool weird songs I saw videos for on MTV 2 (Radiohead’s “Pyramid Song", “Clint Eastwood" by Gorillaz, “Hellbent" by Kenna). I was very much a product of my time - and soon enough, seeking out songs and listening to MP3s was my favorite hobby.

Napster begat Audiogalaxy, with its amazing recommendation engine (I still miss it so!). When Audiogalaxy died, we moved to Kazaa, with its countless mislabeled songs and surprise porn. From there, SoulSeek and eventually torrents. And once we had torrents - the veil was off.

Pirating music? That was easy.

Bring on the DVD-rips of movies, cams of things yet to hit home, renamed ZIP and RAR files containing fresh JPEGs of every comic that just hit the shelves, cracked software downloads (because I just needed the full Adobe suite.) My iPod (which cost me a pretty penny in the early 2000s) was chock full of pirated albums. I burnt DVD-Rs, and made copies for my friends. All those super elite, double-hush-hush torrent sites? You bet I have logins.

But what I noticed all along was I was closing myself in on two sides.

I thought myself an “ethical" pirate - I tried to make an effort to buy the things that I had tried and loved. This lead to owning hundreds of DVDs and Blu-Rays, buying CD’s which I’d just re-rip and add back to iTunes, stacks upon stacks of comic book trades which I’d crack open briefly, to realize - “Oh yeah…“ - I had read that.

All the while the stacks of properly purchased goods grew, so too did the gigs and gigs of pirated content. It was less that I sat down and watched, read and enjoyed - it was more a hit-list filling up my hard drive. Did I have it? Did I not have it? Had to pick it up. Had to queue the download. Had to be ahead of the tide.

Something in the past year changed for me.

Maybe it was turning 30. Maybe it was reading that damn KonMari book and realizing that I was just cluttering up my life with things I’d eventually get to enjoying, while not properly supporting those who made it in the first place. Maybe it was working for three different software companies in my career and realizing how much every purchase effects people.

Or maybe it was the realization of how much we all have accessible at our fingertips, at a fraction of the cost of what it used to be.

The early days of piracy for me were an extension of an angsty teen wanting to have access to the things he wanted to enjoy.

I have regular, easy, broadband, HD, crystal-clear access to the things I want to enjoy - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And it’s an embarrassment of riches.

Apple Music gives me all the songs I’ve ever loved and the new ones that grab my ear for $15 a month. (I share a family plan with my wife.)

Hulu, Netflix and Amazon Prime bring me most of the TV shows and movies I could ever want to see for less than $10 a month each. If I didn’t already have HBO Go through my Internet deal, I could just nab HBO Now for $15 a month to get those shows and movies, too. And I probably will, when Verizon FiOS inevitably betrays me.

I track the movies I want to see and haven’t via Letterboxd, and those I can’t find on Hulu, Netflix or Amazon, I can rent digitally for less than the cost of a movie ticket via iTunes (yeah, I’m an Apple guy through and through). And I don’t need the disc - how often do I really re-watch them anyway?

The only sticky part? Comics. Marvel has its Marvel Unlimited plan (which I really need to sign back up for - even if the comics are on a 6 month delay), which is great for someone who wants to read everything - or nearly everything.

Sadly, DC Comics and Image Comics don’t have anything similar (yet?). But if there’s stuff I really love? There’s Comixology, or an entire universe of incredible retailers that can help me find what I miss out on, now that I’m not downloading every book this week every week.

But I feel good about paying for the content I love. I try to create content myself these days - sure, most of it is free on YouTube or iTunes, but we ask people to pay for live shows…and there’s really nothing quite like realizing that people want to support your work with their hard-earned dollar.

Maybe that’s the greatest realization I’ve had - and why I never balk when an iOS developer asks for $5 for a new software update, or an independent movie producer politely asks fans to not pirate their work.

Every exchange we make with our dollar is a vote for more of this - all the blogs and the tweets in the world will never hold more sway than that.

I’m Marty Day, I’m (almost) 31 years old, and I’m not a pirate anymore.

You can do it too. You’ll feel better. Promise.

A Show Floor Look At BALTIMORE COMIC CON 2015!

The 2015 edition of the Baltimore Comic Con hit my dear Charm City this weekend, and with a press pass in hand, I made it to one of the country’s best, pure comics shows going today.

Here are my thoughts from the show floor.

Last year, for the first time in its existence, Baltimore Comic Con officially expanded to a three day format. Typical for anime conventions, but not so typical for comics shows, the decision was met with some skepticism by attendees and vendors alike. The relative slowness of that first ever Friday seemed to point to the skeptics being correct.

At the 2015 edition, however, a tide seemed to turn, as attendance appeared to have grown year over year on Friday (at least from the vendors and staffers I was able to speak to), as did sales, for those who made the effort of being available the extra day. It will be interesting to see if the growth pattern continues in 2016. Saturday will always be the “peak" day for a convention, but I’ve seen some shows have Fridays which eclipse their Sundays, which would be impressive for Baltimore Comic Con.

One of the parts that didn’t seem to work in the 2014 edition of Baltimore Comic-Con was the Artist’s Alley section, which seemed under-trafficked, confusing in layout, and unsatisfying to its vendors. I’m pleased to say that the 2015 edition appeared to reverse this trend. The foot traffic within Artist’s Alley was frantic, with the isles filled with attendees checking out creative works from artists of all levels. Word from the majority of artists I spoke with was that 2015 was consistent with prior years for sales, if not improved, and hopefully the greater exposure to the attendees will result in a more healthy Artist Alley moving forward. It was really great to see - and props to the particularly ambitious woman who decided to buy an Artist’s Alley booth to serve as her Avon sales booth!

The comic book vendors have always been the life-blood of comic shows, and Baltimore Comic Con was no different. And based on the majority of foot traffic being centralized to these vendors, clearly, that’s what people are there for. But - I do have my nit to pick.

I cannot keep count of the number of vendors designed the exact same way, with the exact same product, with zero signage or unique layout to differentiate them. You have your wall of “key issues" at premium prices, your long boxes, your wall of Funko POP! Vinyls, your stacks of key trades, and your cheap trades, made up of the titles Diamond Distributors clearanced out that year. And the layout and selection is almost universally the same.

As an attendee, this isn’t entirely awful, as you know that if you are looking for one thing, and someone snaps it up, you can just go to another booth and find it. But on the whole, this leaves the majority of the show floor feeling repetitive and same-y. And given that many of the booths don’t do the best job of pushing their shop’s signage, it becomes hard to recommend a particular vendor.

This isn’t true of all vendors, of course - stores such as Captain Chuck’s Comics and Third Eye Comics did a strong job of making their booths stand out, but they’re just a handful of the whole.

I’m reminded of one of the most effective booths I’ve ever seen. At Awesome Con in Washington, DC, Fantom Comics had a simple, minimalist booth. They had a banner, and they had a smaller selection of trades…but they were books that the staff on hand loved, believed in, could talk up, and immediately sell you on. It was great - as opposed to the hunt and peck process of an average comic booth, I wanted to engage with the staff and learn (and buy) more.

Maybe I’m a unique attendee in that regard, but I feel like a more streamlined and focused experience could result in greater returns for these vendors…and make me more likely to remember them and return to them in future years, as opposed to having them get lost in the hive.

Going to a lot of anime conventions with my side-gig at Super Art Fight, you get used to a certain type of convention goer. Anime conventions skew younger, so you get a lot of teenage angst from its attendees. At comic shows, the audience skews a bit older, which actually results in an easier, more accessible experience for attendees. I was particularly surprised to see how self-policing the sections with the comic guests were. Fans got arranged into queues around booths, and if new people joined, they quickly acclimated to the “law of the land". It was refreshing and nice to be a part of.

While I was the first to admit that the 2014 edition of Baltimore Comic Con needed some work, the 2015 edition showed that the efforts by the convention paid off. The shift to three days was successful, and given the special place in the heart of the industry the convention has (a major retailers event occurs in the days leading up to the show, and Saturday night hosts the Harvey Awards), I think the convention will continue to grow as one of the best “pure" comics shows going today.

While you can probably do the entire show floor and have a good time in one day, it’s a heck of a day for a fan of 4-color adventures, and I give it a strong recommendation. Baltimore Comic Con 2016 is set for September 2—4 of next year.

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a press badge for my coverage of this event.

'HoPiKo' Is A Blast Of Mobile Arcade Fun

Just wanted to take a brief moment to feature a really rad mobile game here on the blog - HoPiKo.

I decided to check out the game based on Apple making it an “Editor’s Choice" this week, and based on my time with the game so far, I cannot recommend it enough.

The plot of the game is simple. A virus strikes the insides of a video game system (which is in NO way a Nintendo Entertainment System), but one of the HoPiKos that makes the games work escapes, and now it’s up to him to defeat the viruses. (Virii?)

youtu.be/3AqmRch_a…

The gameplay is deceptively simple. Hold, aim and let go, and send your hero from platform to platform, until you can break a viral cage to save your fellow HoPiKos. This gets very complicated, very quickly, due to some GENIUS level design.

Developed by indie studio Laser Dog (who brought us Alone, previously), the game features a charming retro pixel style, matched with a fun, charging chip tune soundtrack. The game is fast, furious, fun, and addictive. And for just $4, with no IAP, it is 100% worth it.

HoPiKo is available now in the iOS App Store and in the Google Play Store.

New 'Steve Jobs' Trailer Stuns

Universal Pictures has released a new trailer for their big Fall awards hope, Steve Jobs - and the movie continues to look fantastic.

www.youtube.com/watch

Steve Jobs had a less than easy road to the big screen, having at once been under the purview of Sony Pictures, with David Fincher directing and Christian Bale rumored to star, but the movie was finally made by Universal Pictures, with the great Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire) behind the lens.

Written by Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network), the movie has been on my “must-see" list for some time, and word from early film festival screenings has been incredibly positive. Sorkin is a writer whose work I’ve mostly enjoyed - minus, say, the last season or two of The Newsroom - but as The Social Network showed, Sorkin does great writing leads whose flaws mirror his own…as opposed to creating new characters that unfortunately start to spout his own rhetoric.

Michael Fassbender looks to be acting his ass off in this movie, playing the late Apple leader, and similarly strong appears to be the performance of Kate Winslet, starring as Joanna Hoffman, a member of the original Mac team and the NeXT team. I personally can’t wait to see Seth Rogen stretch his legs a bit as Steve Wozniak.

My biggest concern is the unique format of the movie - it’s built around three phases of Steve Jobs’ career, namely, three press conferences, including the unveiling of the original Apple computer, and the unveiling of the first iMac. It’s more of a play than a film in that regard, but with such captivating talent working on it - I can’t imagine the final product being anything but mesmerizing.

Steve Jobs hits in limited release on October 9, 2015, with a full national release following on October 23.

'Kong: Skull Island' Takes Out 'Pacific Rim 2', Indefinitely

It’s amazing the things which can enter the crossfire of a Hollywood misunderstanding. Sometimes, it’s the movies you want to see the most.

In an article discussing the already troubled adventure to the silver screen for the latest attempt to revive the King Kong franchise, Kong: Skull Island, The Hollywood Reporter dropped an absolute heartbreaker of a bombshell.

Yep! Due to a pissing match between financing studio Legendary Pictures, and their former distribution partner Warner Bros (who really wants to bring King Kong in to build a universe around the revived Godzilla franchise), and Universal Pictures (who stepped in as Legendary’s distributor, which has resulted in a mixed bag of hits and failures), we may see Legendary working again with Warner Bros….which puts Pacific Rim 2 in a world of limbo.

Goodness, between news like this, and the end of the Silent Hills project over at Konami, this has not been a great year for Guillermo del Toro.

At least we have Crimson Peak coming in October.

Purify Allows An Ad-Free Glimpse of Pure Mobile Web

Folks - earlier this week, I was given beta access to a piece of software that is going to be extremely controversial and disruptive to the way the Internet works. But with what we’re getting, the trade off is completely worth it. What happens from here is for the rest of the Internet to decide…but until that occurs, let us embrace the disruption of Purify, a new content blocker app available soon for iOS.

Today brings the release of iOS 9, the long-awaited new update to Apple’s operating system which powers the millions of iPhones and iPads used daily by an incredible number of users.

Say what you will about Apple - perhaps they “perfect" more than “innovate", perhaps they have too frothy a fanbase - but the fact is, their devices have become the way for countless people around the world to access the web, and access the web regularly. It’s where people get their news, read social media, read blogs and generally become one with the world wide web.

At the same time - the web is in a state of flux. The relationship between content consumer and content creator has been a troubled one for ages. The internet is ostensibly built around the idea of dramatic amounts of information available at your fingertips, absolutely free (minus your Internet bill, whether cellular or coaxial). To keep providing readers free content, the eyes of the viewers are exposed to countless ads. These advertisers pay for the exposure, which keeps the flow of content coming in. But now - more than ever - users don’t want to be exposed to ads.

Ads track what we do from site to site. Ads get in the way of our content. Ads try to figure out who we are, what we want to do, and how we can best be sold. In a post-Snowden world, this worries people. And more than that - these ads, and the scripts and trackers that support them - are bloating the web at unreasonable proportions.

Having been an avid internet user since the late 90’s, I’ve seen countless ads types. Banner ads, flash ads, whatever that old IGN process was which resulted in a giant ad for Tim Burton’s Planet of the Apes to “crash" through the screen with a sound clip of Michael Clarke Duncan yelling “BOW YOUR HEAD". (That certainly showed my tracks during some bleary-eyed late night IGN reading as a teenager. Sorry, Mom.) But as frustrating as those were, we grew out of them. For a bit. Google ads showed us the way. Simple, contextual advertising that you could see, not be distracted by, and move on, if you wanted.

For a while, that was great…but that was the problem. You could ignore it. And with an age of growing readerships, but declining revenue, websites are doing anything and everything they can to keep the lights on and the sites going.

I’m not the first to discuss this. Some people much brighter than I have written about this, such as The Verge’s Nilay Patel (who oddly puts the blame on the browsers themselves?), known tech blogger Marco Arment, Apple super fan John Gruber, iMore’s Rene Ritchie, and even The Guardian had a hot take on it.

We’re in an age of declining attention spans, limited mobile bandwidth, and a want to serve content and advertising at an even kiel.

So how do you solve it? If you’re Apple - you make the decision to allow content filtering applications for Safari in iOS 9.

Purity - the main reason why I write today - is developed by the same person who took over the open-source ad-blocker UBlock. And based on my time with the software, it could not be more simple, more elegant, and more delivering of what the mobile web should be.

Check out this YouTube video showcasing the difference.

www.youtube.com/watch

The clutter, the noise, the distraction of the modern web experience - gone. All that’s left is brilliant and simple content.

Installation and usage could not be more simple. Download the app from the app store, and..that’s really it. Load times, dropped. Page sizes, nullified. Your privacy, retained.

Want to whitelist a site to ensure they get the advertising dollars from your exposure? Tap the share-sheet icon in Safari (like you’re sharing to Twitter or Facebook), and there will be a button for Purify, where you can whitelist the domain.

They’ve even shared graphs on their Twitter account, showcasing real differences in load times between sites without a content blocker, and with a content blocker. (Crystal, referenced there, is a rival to Purify)

I’ve seen it myself. I’ve experienced it myself. And honestly, I can’t imagine my phone ever not having this app on it. It - like TweetBot and Reeder before it - will grow to define my iOS usage. And because it is so easy, because it is so simple, and because it shows the inelegance of the current model…content creators should be excited, and very, very scared.

We live in an age where people are cutting cords, not wanting to watch ads on TV, not wanting to be marketed to at all times. And now, with apps like Purify, the phone will be another battleground lost.

At some point, we as content absorbers must find the proper balance with the content creators…but so too must the creator with its audience. Thankfully, with an app like Purify, the power is back on the side of the audience. Now, it’s time to see what develops next.

Purify will be available later today in the iOS app store. A beta copy of the software was provided for testing, but this article was written without any request from the developer.

'The Jungle Book' Teaser Trailer is Keeping A Secret In Plain Sight

Hey folks. Been a while. Life is happening - but let’s talk about what we’re all here for. Nerdy things.

Like - for example - today’s release of the first official teaser trailer for The Jungle Book. Check it out below.

youtu.be/HcgJRQWxK…

Already you know that there’s some heat on this movie. There’s Jon Favreau behind the camera, with his first blockbuster motion picture since Cowboys & Aliens, hoping to get his mojo back that he gained when he launched Iron Man and the Marvel Cinematic Universe proper. (That reminds me, I still need to see Chef.)

You’ve got a major list of voice actors, making the animals come to life. Idris Elba, Christopher Walken, Bill Murray, Scarlett Johannson (who I felt like might be a little bit distracting in this trailer?) - even Ben Kingsley signed up for this.

Now get ready for the surprise. Everything - except Neel Sethi, the boy playing Mowgli - is CGI.

Yeah. Stunning stuff, right?

This could be an Avatar level leap forward for tech, melded with a Disney classic. I can’t wait to see it for myself.

The Jungle Book hits theaters on April 15, 2016

Entertainment Weekly Blows The Roof Off 'The Force Awakens'!

You guys, I am REALLY excited for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Today’s articles and new photos courtesy of Entertainment Weekly aren’t helping with my calm, that’s for sure.

I’d imagine that there are many of you out there who are trying to remain spoiler free, so for you, I will gladly share the new images below. We’ve got images of Rey, Finn and Poe, BB—8’s tied up in a net, there are cool aliens, the First Order looks WAY amazing, and C—3PO has a new arm? They’re all awesome, and that’s what counts.

[gallery ids=“20489,20490,20491,20492,20493,20494,20495,20496,20497,20498,20499,20500”]

But for those who want to know more, there are a few articles from this week’s edition of the magazine (the Fall Movie Preview) which go a little more in-depth on Episode VII’s journey to the screen.

We’ve got…

Hopefully this gets you as excited as I am. It’s going to be a great movie going Christmas.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits theaters on December 18, 2015.

New 'Star Wars Battlefront' Fighter Squadron Trailer RULES

Arguably the game I’m looking forward to most this holiday season, Star Wars Battlefront just got even bigger with this new “Fighter Squadron Mode” trailer, released today during Gamescom.

youtu.be/yjqqwZGNH…

I was pretty sold on the game with DICE’s reputation, the stunning gameplay trailer from E3, and the positive reactions to the Alpha test.

This new footage today, showcasing the intense TIE Fighter, X-Wing, and even Millennium Falcon battles you can have in the sky, just sold me this game as the ultimate Star Wars gaming experience.

You can be like me, and pre-order today. I can’t wait.

Star Wars Battlefront hits shelves on November 17, 2015.

Green Or Red: 2 'Deadpool' Trailers Hit The Web

While neither is the exact trailer premiered at San Diego Comic Con last month - which received such a positive response that fans chanted for it to be played a second time - not just one, but two edits of the Deadpool trailer have hit the web, for you to be able to watch a million, billion times on your own devices.

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So, what do I think?

The movie looks completely over the top, ridiculous, fowl-mouthed and insane. Basically, it’s everything that a Deadpool movie needs to be. Will that resonate with general audiences? I have no idea - but for comic fans, who are used to the Merc with a Mouth’s non-stop quips and penchant for extreme violence, this looks to be the movie to redeem Ryan Reynolds after the hard 1—2 punch of X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Green Lantern.

Also, in case you missed it, here’s the Trailer Trailer. Yes, a trailer for the trailer. It’s worth watching to see how natural Reynolds is in the role.

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Deadpool hits theaters on February 12, 2016.

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015): A Review

Who would’ve thought that the fifth installment of a franchise could be interesting or vibrant?

Certainly the folks behind Fast & Furious, which catapulted to new heights with 2011’s Fast Five. The fifth installment of the Tom Cruise lead Mission:Impossible franchise doesn’t quite hit that level of awesome - but since its rebirth in M:I—3, this spy franchise continues to be great - and the newest installment, Rogue Nation, delivers as some late-Summer entertainment.

On paper, the plotline for Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation sounds like a very very weak sequel idea. You know how we love the IMF? THERE’S AN EVIL VERSION. And their name? Just The Syndicate. It’s your basic played-out story. Take the hero, give it the inverse. But thankfully, Rogue Nation (under the script and direction of Jack Reacher’s Christopher McQuarrie) uses this trope of a concept as a launching point, resulting in a film with some of the most intense and hard nosed set-pieces the franchise has hosted yet.

Want to see Tom Cruise legitimately ride the side of a plane? No problem, that’s before the credits. Want to see a tense and well choreographed sequence in an opera house? Done. How about a crazy underwater infiltration bit, where super spy Ethan Hunt has to hold his breath an inhuman amount of time? YOU GOT IT! And that doesn’t even include the car chases and hand to hand combat. In short, it’s another globe-spanning, action-filled romp.

Some old favorites are back, including Simon Pegg’s Benji, Ving Rhames’ Luther, and - even though he did nothing for me in the last installment - Jeremy Renner’s back too. Eh.

Making it fun are the newbies, including Alec Baldwin as a CIA head who wants to take down the IMF (they’re too risky!), and an enigmatic British agent, played by Rebecca Ferguson.

Honestly, Ferguson is the movie’s secret weapon. She’s an incredibly capable, total bad-ass of an agent. And thankfully? They never resort her to a love interest. She’s enough to make you hope that they’ll finally bring back a female IMF agent for a second go around. Why Paula Patton couldn’t be in this one is beyond me, but the creators would have to justify that one.

If Rogue Mission has any flaws, it’s a MacGuffin filled third-act, full of double crosses, triple crosses, twists, turns, and - naturally - a flash drive. That, and the lead bad guy was someone I could never take seriously, continuing a legacy of less-than-stellar big bad’s in the Mission: Impossible franchise, with the notable exception of Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Yes, it’s not as great as Ghost Protocol, yes, the third act isn’t the best, but between the awesome work of Rebecca Ferguson (who I really want to see more of), and some absolutely thrilling, mostly practical action sequences, Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation is just what the end of Summer needs - a thrilling great time entertaining you in an air-conditioned theater. Check it out.

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation is in theaters now, and is available for pre-order on Amazon and iTunes.

'Jurassic World' Sequel Set For Summer 2018

In a move that shouldn’t surprise many - especially considering that it recently overtook The Avengers to become the 3rd highest-grossing movie of all time - Jurassic World is getting a sequel.

Universal Studios announced yesterday that Jurassic World 2 or Jurassic Park 5 or whatever they decide to call it will hit theaters on June 22, 2018.

Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard will return as leads, and the script is going to be co-written by Colin Trevorrow (who directed Jurassic World) and Derek Connolly (who wrote Jurassic World). No director is selected as of yet, and if rumor holds true, Trevorrow will be busy at this time.

In short, Universal is doing everything they can to ensure that the same team is reunited to hopefully recapture the magic of this unexpected massive success.

As much as I enjoyed Jurassic World - and I did - I can’t help but feel like this extreme level of success was lightning in a bottle. And I’m not really sure what plot threads we need to pick up from. I suppose Life, uh, will find a way…again.

[caption id=“attachment_20465” align=“aligncenter” width=“500”] I will post this any opportunity I get.[/caption]

At the very least - how about we just combine massive successes and give us Jurassic World 2: Fast & Furious 8?

The New 'SPECTRE' Trailer Looks Killer

There is a whole lot to love about the new SPECTRE trailer.

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Daniel Craig’s fourth appearance of James Bond appears to continue the thread from Skyfall, giving us a beautiful and stylish adventure, which also ties together James’ past.

I cannot wait to see Christoph Waltz as the main Bond villain, and this new trailer underlines how SPECTRE will be full of the action, awesome set pieces, and cool gadgets we’ve come to love from the franchise.

SPECTRE hits theaters in the UK on October 26, and in the US on November 6, 2015.

Jason Bourne, But A Stoner: New 'American Ultra' Trailer

On paper, this movie sounds like an awful idea, but with it’s latest trailer…I think I actually want to see American Ultra.

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Maybe it’s because I really enjoyed Adventureland and want to see Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart on screen again. Maybe I’m just happy to see Topher Grace get work. Maybe Max Landis (the screenwriter) won me over with “Wrestling Isn’t Wrestling".

All I know is, next month, I think I’m gonna give American Ultra a shot. I just hope it winds up more The Bourne Supremacy and less Pineapple Express.

American Ultra hits theaters on August 21, 2015.

Pixar Finally Shows Us 'The Good Dinosaur'

After a rather lengthy development process - which resulted in the removal of the original director, and a shift from a Summer 2014 release date to a Thanksgiving 2015 bow, Pixar has finally taken the covers off of The Good Dinosaur.

Sure, we had a teaser trailer earlier this year, but this is the first true footage we’re seeing of the movie.

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Starring a dinosaur named Arlo, along with his pet human, it’s a unique take on a “boy and his dog" adventure, while also exploring the idea of what would’ve happened if dinosaurs never become extinct.

The effort in the animation truly shines here, as Pixar delivers some of the most realistic and lush scenery they’ve ever produced (seriously, watch this trailer in HD if you can), and while that can be odd, juxtaposed with the stylized look of Arlo, I cannot wait to see the adventure Pixar has in store for us this Thanksgiving.

Heck, maybe we can get two good dinosaur movies AND two good Pixar movies in one year!

The Good Dinosaur hits theaters on November 25, 2015.

Trainwreck (2015): A Review

Serving as both Judd Apatow’s most reserved film as a director, and Amy Schumer’s coming out party as a comedic powerhouse, Trainwreck is anything but. A film that is equally smart, funny, and filthy, Trainwreck is one of the best comedies of this decade.

Written and starring Amy Schumer, the stand-up best known for her Comedy Central series Inside Amy Schumer, Trainwreck is the perfect encapsulation of Schumer’s comedic voice. Mixing elements of her sexualized stand-up work with Schumer’s real life story, Amy plays “Amy", a writer for a men’s magazine titled S’Nuff, lead by an editor played by a completely unrecognizable Tilda Swinton. Amy was taught at a young age by her father that “monogamy isn’t realistic", which has lead to her current situation, where she has many a one-night-stand, but never allows herself commitment.

That’s in stark contrast to Amy’s sister (played by Brie Larson), who is married (to a husband played wonderfully by Mike Birbiglia), acts as a step mother to a rather odd stepson, and has a baby on the way. If that wasn’t enough, her father (Colin Quinn) has MS, and Amy just got assigned to interview this hot shot sports doctor (Bill Hader), who may also be the first person Amy allows herself to fall for.

The “trainwreck" that ensues is a perfect mix of what Judd Apatow has brought us in his prior films - love, filth, gross-out moments, incredibly sexual dialogue - but it has been sent through a strong female prism, with Schumer’s voice coming through loud and clear. It sounds like a TV ad cliche, but this really is the strongest female lead comedy since Bridesmaids. It’s a shame it’s taken this long for something so true to hit the screen since, but by allowing painful moments to linger (as seen in This Is 40, Funny People, and Knocked Up), the laughs provided in the script register even louder, a thunderous response to the difficulties that life present us.

Trainwreck is a film that allows Schumer to be showcased in full. She’s filthy, she’s feminine, but she’s full of heart. And it’s also nice to see Apatow get out of his comfort zone, with a cast that contains none of his regulars, but is full of New York based comedic talent. And hey! It’s almost under two hours! The comedy is so strong here that it even shines with the random sports cameos. In an SNL-esq turn, some of the biggest laughs come from the world of sports, with LeBron James playing an amazing version of himself, WWE’s John Cena playing a musclebound ex of Amy’s, and a legendary sportscaster mocking himself and his legacy with particular gusto.

With Trainwreck, Amy Schumer really has arrived. And with a film with so much heart, I can’t recommend it more. See it with someone you love.

Trainwreck is currently in theaters, and is available for pre-order via iTunes and Amazon.

Ant-Man (2015): A Review

Announced way, way back in 2006 alongside the announcement that Marvel was going to be producing its own movies, starting with Iron Man, Ant-Man has had a long and storied road to the big screen.

We’ve seen a beloved comic actor take the lead, we’ve seen a cult-favorite leave the director’s chair, and now, nearly a decade later, Ant-Man has finally hit the screen. The result? One of the strangest, most imperfect, and yet most fun Marvel Studios movies just yet.

Much like last year’s Guardians of the Galaxy, Ant-Man is a character who grabs a shrug, if not a series of jokes, from the general public. Yes, he’s just a hero who shrinks to the size of an ant (for now, at least). Yes, that is “lame". No, I don’t know why we’re supposed to take him seriously in a world populated by Super Soldiers, Thunder Gods, and Androids. But I’ll be damned if the movie doesn’t make a great argument for it.

Starring Paul Rudd as Scott Lang, our hero for the film, Ant-Man takes Scott, an excellent thief, but a less than stellar human being, and absentee father - and inserts him into a story of family and corporate intrigue.

The Ant-Man suit and technology was developed by Hank Pym (Michael Douglas). Pym originally developed the technology for SHIELD, but decided to spin off on his own, after seeing a want to use the technology en masse, creating an entire series of soldiers. Decades later, Pym is mostly retired, with his company controlled by Darren Cross (House of Cards’ Corey Stoll) with Pym’s daughter, Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lily) as Cross’ right-hand woman. After years of research, Cross has finally cracked the code for Pym’s shrinking technology - called Pym Particles - and is intending to sell it to the military market as the “Yellowjacket". Obviously, this won’t stand so Pym and his estranged daughter Hope, approach Lang with becoming the Ant-Man to steal the Yellowjacket suit and destroying the technology once and for all.

That’s right - much how Marvel’s Phase 2 gave us Superhero Movies as Conspiracy Films (Captain America: The Winter Solider), Superhero Movies as Lethal Weapon Homage (Iron Man 3) and Superhero Movies as Space Opera (Guardians of the Galaxy), Ant-Man presents us with a Superhero Movie as Heist Film. And for the most part, the movie works.

Ant-Man engrains us with all sorts of families - Scott’s ex-wife, her fiance, and his daughter Cassie; Hank Pym, Hope, and her late mother - but the strongest bond (and where the most laughs are found) are with Lang’s erstwhile family of fellow thieves, portrayed by Michael Pena, rapper TI, and David Dastmalchian. Michael Pena in particular shines as the incredibly bright and friendly Luis, whose gift of gab results in brilliant Drunk History-esq retellings of how he received the tip on different heists.

These storytellings are an example of the engaging techniques used to tell the story. We have really great training montages, we have these flashbacks, and of course, all of the amazing sequences shot when Scott is shrunk in the Ant-Man suit. For better or worse, however, these great sequences remind us exactly of what the film is missing: Edgar Wright.

It’s a shame to say - especially as Peyton Reed does a tremendous job in sticking the landing on what appeared to be a doomed project - but Wright’s fingerprints can be found all over the final project, especially in the unique way Ant-Man’s story is told. The end result is admirably well done, but results in a movie that hits a B-grade, when it could’ve been an A. This missing feeling, in addition to a script and plot that doesn’t really serve the character of Hope van Dyne as well as it could’ve, strikes the movie down from what it could’ve been. Perhaps this feeling will subside as the movie ages, but it stuck with me in the theater, and I couldn’t shake it.

Those gripes aside - Ant-Man is still a tremendously fun time in the theater. The movie has a lot of heart, and the script work by Paul Rudd and Anchorman’s Adam McKay results in many solid laughs. In terms of the Marvel lexicon, I’d place it aside Thor in terms of making a seemingly inaccessible character incredibly fun - but it’s also just as slight, compared to the highest highs of this ongoing cinematic universe.

A mixture of Ocean’s Eleven, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and Iron Man, Ant-Man isn’t perfect - but it is a heck of a fun time at the movies.

NOTES: I saw Ant-Man in 3D. While completely unnecessary, it does enhance the sense of scale for all of the “micro" scenes with the character.

Ant-Man is currently in theaters, and is available for pre-order on Amazon and iTunes.

Terminator Genisys (2015): A Review

Summer 2015 has been a remarkable season of franchise rebirth.

As much as movie fans may deride it, the fact of the matter is - the current state of the movie industry relies on franchises or known properties getting the masses into theaters. For the most part, this Summer, it’s worked out. The seventh Fast & Furious movie is one of its best, and is the biggest yet. We’re twelve movies into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Long time favorites Mad Max and Jurassic Park have been reborn with revitalized installments for new generations.

Unfortunately, Terminator Genisys is not going to join the list.

A lifeless installment that is somehow a prequel, sequel and reboot all-in-one, Genisys aims to be something-for-everyone, and delivers nothing-for-anyone for 125 dull minutes.

Terminator Genisys attempts to handle the Terminator franchise much how Jurassic World handled the prior Jurassic films - recall the good, ignore the bad. In shades of 1984’s The Terminator, future freedom fighter John Connor (played here by Jason Clarke), battling robotic baddies Skynet, decides to send his right-hand man, solider Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) back to 1984 to protect his mother, Sarah Connor (Game of Thrones’ Emilia Clarke) from a time-traveling T—800.

The twist this time? Without describing the MAJOR spoiler (which is actually covered in many, many trailers), when Kyle arrives in 1984, waiting for him is a T—1000 (Lee Byung-hun) - you know, like in Terminator 2: Judgement Day! And that T—800 that showed up in 1984 originally (played here by a CGI Arnold Schwarzenegger)? He’s stopped by a HEROIC T—800 (flesh and bone Arnold Schwarzenegger) - you know, like in Terminator 2: Judgement Day! - and he’s OLD! Like the real Arnold is now! And even weirder?! Sarah Connor’s a gun carrying bad-ass! Like in Terminator 2: Judgement Day! And, uh, the T—800 is kind of her dad.

That’s right, due to some weirdness when Kyle Reese was sent into the past - which finally explains what exactly former Doctor Matt Smith is doing in this movie - we’ve got ourselves a BRAND NEW TIMELINE!

Lets step back for a second. To give ourselves a fresh slate (and start a new trilogy, the studio hopes), the filmmakers here have decided to freshen up the timeline for new audiences, but to understand it, you need to have seen the prior movies (which will confuse the new audiences), but we keep the old movies relevant for the original Terminator audience (who, by this point, are facepalming due to the ridiculous number of changes).

Terminator Genisys is a movie that commits those cardinal sins of plotting and more!

Over the next two hours, you get…

  • Arnold Schwarzenegger being, of all characters, the one to explain how time travel works!
  • A “our heroes get arrested sequence" scored to the tune of “Bad Boys" - you know, like on Cops!
  • Skynet morphing into Genisys, an evil operating system which I guess is supposed to be criticizing Facebook and Apple at the same time? Whichever is more relevant to the kids.

The worst part is? Everyone here deserves better. Almost everyone, that is. Jai Courtney remains the human equivalent of dishwater, and ruins his second franchise, so he can stay among the muck. Emilia Clarke is fantastic on Game of Thrones, but never once feels right in the role of Sarah Connor. It probably doesn’t help that while she’s portrayed as the Judgement Day styled badass, she mostly just is a damsel in distress. Jason Clarke was great in Zero Dark Thirty, but brings nothing of what made him so captivating there. Even Arnold is turned into a joke, with his aging being regularly referenced (to where sometimes, I just felt bad for the guy), and his T—800 mostly serving as comedic relief.

Honestly, the only person who seems engaged is JK Simmons, who has the film’s most intriguing role (again, one who would be a spoiler if I explained further). The minute he exclaims his exasperation at the “GODDAMN TIME TRAVELING ROBOTS" earns every bit of admission - and the movie promptly manages to never again reach that height.

Action sequences occur regularly and are mostly competent, but are delivered with little feeling or gusto. I’m not sure if that’s the script or directions fault, but fingers could be pointed in either direction - sorry, Alan Taylor, you deserve better than this.

As the fifth film in the franchise, Terminator Genisys marks the tipping point of the Terminator series - there are now officially more bad Terminator movies than good ones. Maybe bad isn’t even the proper term - Terminator Genisys isn’t offensively awful, it’s just incredibly unengaging. And that may even be the bigger sin.

With hints of a sequel dropped in the mid-credits sequence, I have a sad message for Paramount: I won’t be back.

Terminator Genisys is in theaters now, and is available for pre-order on Amazon and iTunes.

Inside Out (2015): A Review

Pixar as a studio has always produced great films - but their best have always presented a unique skew on things we take for granted.

How can toys be alive? What do bugs do that’s so great? You’re old - you can’t be an adventurer! No way a robot can feel. The worst thing in a kitchen? A RAT!

With their latest release, Inside Out, the animation studio once again gives importance to something we take terribly for granted - our emotions, and how they define our actions, and ultimately who we are. The result? An all-time classic, and their best film in years.

Set mostly within the confines of the head of an 11-year-old girl named Riley, Inside Out is the story of our emotions, personified by Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Fear (Bill Hader), Disgust (Mindy Kahling) and Anger (Lewis Black). These emotions have worked as a group to guide Riley through her life, but after her parents decide to move from Minnesota to San Francisco, things start to go terribly wrong for Riley - not just because the move is tough for her and her family (it sounds like her Dad’s working for a startup gone wrong, from what little we hear), but because she’s growing up - and when you grow up, as we all know - or learn - your emotions go haywire.

In this instance, the emotions go haywire when the prior balance in Riley’s head - Joy running the show, is thrown into chaos. Sadness decides to become more of a part of the picture. The dysfunctional work relationship between Joy and Sadness breaks bad, and in an incident involving the transportation of memory orbs from “Headquarters" (where the emotions work), to Long Term Memory (where memories are stored), Joy and Sadness are removed from Headquarters and are left on a journey to return some control back to Riley.

On paper, it’s your standard road trip sort of film - an unlikely duo trying to get from Point A to Point B, and learning to work together along the way. But in that trademark Pixar way, Inside Out subverts these expectations as a canvas to discuss something greater, to discuss how emotions drive us.

There are incredible set pieces, including a brilliant sequence through abstract thought, hilarious gags about how jingles get stuck in your head, the confusion of facts and opinions, and even why some memories persist and others fade away. But the most incredible part is how it speaks to a universal truth in humans. We all have Joy, Fear, Disgust, Anger and Sadness. And every moment of Joy is tinged by Sadness. It’s what makes us, well, us. And it’s an incredibly freeing moment to realize that everyone you know is in the same boat.

One of the coolest moments of the movie is actually just as the credits roll - we see the teams of emotions running all sorts of characters lives. You see that beneath it all we’re the same. We struggle, we work hard, and within each of us, there really is an adventure that we’re trying to conquer. It just so happens that Inside Out shows it to us through the lens of an 11-year-old girl.

In recent years, Pixar films haven’t had the same flare they did in the past. While I enjoyed both Brave and Monsters University, you cannot deny that they were slighter entries in the Pixar filmography. With Inside Out, director Pete Docter, who brought us Monsters Inc. and Up previously, gives us possibly the best film that Pixar has yet released. A remarkable moment in animation, viewers young and old will relate to the internalized struggles turned dramatic here - and as all great films wish us to do, we’ll find a universal truth inside us all.

Inside Out is an incredible achievement, a remarkable film, and one I’ll be thinking about for years to come. At the very least, I know that I’ll be wondering which of my emotions is in control.

Additional Notes

  • I actually saw Inside Out in 3D! Like most computer animated films, the 3D was stronger than your normal live action experience, and especially effective during the abstract thought sequence. While by no means essential to the film, 3D was certainly a nice bonus here.
  • The film is proceeded by Lava, the latest short from Pixar. Yet again, I found myself caring for an inanimate object. Also, if the water tech shown here is any indication, Finding Dory is going to be a beautiful film.

Inside Out is in theaters now, and is available for pre-order on Amazon and iTunes.

3 Days with Apple Music, And I'm In Love

I preface this write up with a proper admission - I am a full-on Apple fanboy.

Ever since I got my first iPod in 2005, I’ve been horribly, wonderfully addicted to the unique combination of well designed hardware and brilliantly simple services as designed by the team in Cupertino.

I’ve owned 3 separate iPhones (3GS, 4S, 5S, and I’ll be getting the S-Cycle version of the 6), 2 MacBooks (a mid 2007 white plastic MacBook and an early 2011 MacBook Pro, which I hope to replace with a high spec MacBook Air in the not-too-distant future), and even an iPad (which ultimately I decided was not for me, as iPhones get bigger and more powerful). I haven’t owned an Apple TV yet, but I’m sure I’ll replace my Roku with one when it dies.

That’s not just me rattling off these cool things I’ve owned. That’s me trying to underline how much I’ve enjoyed Apple’s products to date.

It probably comes as no surprise then, that on June 30, when Apple Music went live, I was frantically refreshing the Software Update button on my iPhone to be the first to get the new iOS update and welcome this new streaming service to the world.

Apple’s long-awaited rebranding of what was once Beats Music, absorbed when they purchased the giant headphone maker last year, Apple Music is their attempt at conquering the emergent music streaming world, currently dominated by Spotify, with Rdio in a somewhat distant second. Arguably, Pandora is up there, but as more an Internet radio service, and less an on-demand streaming service, they’re sort of their own tier.

As someone who once held major OPINIONS (yes, all caps) about music, I figured that Spotify was going to be that which ailed me when it came to music listening and discovery. Having once held dozens, if not hundreds, of gigs of music generated from my own CD collection, the growth of MP3 blogs, and membership to a hush-hush super-double-secret music torrenting site, how could I not be all in on a service like Spotify? Almost the entire catalog of recorded musical history, at my fingertips?

For a while, I was complacent, but somewhere, some how, Spotify never clicked for me the way I intended to. I “starred" albums and tracks I loved. I threw myself into the spotlighted playlists. I never really dug the track-or-artist based radio, but I definitely gave it a college try. Eventually, I weaned myself off of my collection of music. Backed up by iTunes Match, I was living the all-streaming lifestyle.

But then, complications took hold with Spotify. The apps became slower. A long awaited visual re-design took ages to come to both iOS and OS X (let alone the split between iPad and iPhone). Then there was whatever the Hell was the shift from “starred" music and “My Music", where your previous library lived in a playlist, while any new additions were moved to a separate library.

Suffice to say - while I kept paying my $10 a month - I really wasn’t happy with Spotify. I started going back to my collection on iTunes, and keeping two programs available - iTunes for favorites, Spotify for discovery. It just felt overdone and clunky.

June 30th, that changed for me. My Spotify subscription was cancelled. And I think quite a few people will be making the same change.

Apple Music is a hybrid product in many ways, but the combination it provides is so great, and perfectly built into my devices, that I don’t know that I’ll be able to do without it.

What makes Apple Music so great? Let me tell you:

Honestly, these past few days with Apple Music are the most fun I’ve had with music since I was a super-opinionated teenager/early-twenties listening to poorly-ripped MP3s on Winamp while regularly seeing shows at Ottobar. I’ve re-lived old favorites, discovered new albums I absolutely love (like Awake by Tycho), and I just can’t stop!  Hell, they’ve even got hundreds (if not thousands) of music videos available too! I even found both of Radiohead’s From The Basement performances, in full! [1] [2]

And what’s even better, is that this is baked into my devices, I don’t need to worry about downloading an extra app, or how well/poorly it’s going to work. On my Mac and iPhone, this just works, and that’s what I’ve come to know from Apple. I can even just ask Siri to start playing songs or albums. It’s like living in the future.

This isn’t to say that Apple Music is completely perfect, however.

The iOS integration is stellar, but the desktop integration could stand to be smoother, especially on Windows (which I use at work, and feels clunky, but hasn’t iTunes always felt like that on Windows?). There are still some things missing from the Apple Music library, such as high-level hold outs like Prince and The Beatles, but I’ve been able to find pretty much everything I’ve been looking for - including stuff Spotify did not have. Also, the integration of non-Apple Music content has been wonky within the iCloud Music Library. I’ve experienced slow-loading of songs that aren’t also on Apple Music, and I’ve seen quite a few examples online of people who’s entire libraries have been screwed up. And in some ways, iTunes on the desktop is just showing its age. It could really use a revamp, a’la the shift from iPhoto to Photos earlier this year, streamlining the product and making it friendlier to all.

In short, it’s hard not to enjoy Apple Music. They’ve given the world a three-month free trial, and after working things out payment-wise with labels, they’re even going to payout the artists. And I think those three months will be key. Getting millions listening - and millions providing feedback - means that in three months, when we get the next iOS and OS X updates, Apple Music will probably be even BETTER by the time we have to start paying for it.

And I know that I’ll be sure to gladly pay that $15 a month. After all, I have a family now.

Jurassic World (2015): A Review

The Jurassic Park franchise - while beloved, doesn’t exactly have the greatest of batting averages. While it started with one of the greatest action-adventure films of the 90’s in 1993’s Jurassic Park, the installments which followed have been less than stellar, 1997’s flawed The Lost World: Jurassic Park and 2001’s abysmal Jurassic Park III.

Fourteen years later, Universal Pictures has brought us a fourth installment of the dinosaur franchise, and I’m very happy to say that while imperfect, Jurassic World is an absolute theatrical thrill ride, and a joy to watch…even if it doesn’t stand up to analysis afterwards.

Set twenty-two years after the original film (and apparently ignoring the events of the two sequels), Jurassic World sees the dream of the late John Hammond realized. Funded by billionaire Simon Masrani (Irrfan Kahn), Jurassic Park has become the full-blown “Jurassic World", an immense theme park located in Isla Nubar. Overseen by Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard, not Jessica Chastain) the park has been an incredible success - but attendance has started to stagnate. In turn, the park, alongside genetic manipulation partner InGen, decides to develop a brand new dinosaur - a fierce creature called an Indominus Rex.

Of course, since this IS a Jurassic movie, things go terribly wrong - and it’s on the same day that Clare’s nephews, Zach and Grey (Nick Robinson and Ty Simpkins) are in the park! Our only hope? Ex-Navy dinosaur trainer Owen Grady (Chris Pratt, who continues to have the coolest career path ever), who, along with his team of trained raptors look to stop the I-Rex and save the day before thousands are killed!

The stakes are high - and thankfully for Summer movie fans, the action completely delivers. Jurassic World, perhaps more than any other installment in the franchise, is build entirely around incredible dino action, and each set piece is more and more fun, silly and ridiculous than the last. You’ll pop out of your seat, you’ll laugh, and you’ll cheer as Pratt and co battle their way through sheer paleolithic pandemonium.

The movie isn’t without its bumps and bruises of course - certain characters feel completely inessential to the film, and there are a good two or three plotlines that are left open or unresolved. Heck, even the main cast isn’t as fleshed out as the cast of the original film, with most actors admirably filling the shoes of different archetypes, such as “Alpha Male", “Overworked Strong Female", “Cool Older Brother" and “Weird Younger Brother". The notable exception to this is New Girl’s Jake Johnson, who plays a Jurassic Park fanboy who also doubles as one of the park’s operators in a sarcastic, silly version of Samuel L. Jackson’s role in the original Park.

In other films, this archetype heavy structure would be a problem, but it may be a part of the overall meta-commentary of the film, which seems to point a finger at movie audiences thirst for sequels from frame number one. “Corporate felt genetic modification would up the wow’ factor.“ is a quote which probably describes both the movie-making process for Jurassic World and the plot-line here, but even with that self-awareness, Jurassic World excels as a thrilling, Summer romp.

Director Colin Trevorrow may only be making his second film with World, following the quirky-indie film Safety Not Guaranteed, but he proves as a solid not-quite-Spielberg here, with the movie feeling large in scope, but personal in nature. You can really feel the majesty of the park in each shot, and you are thrust into the fear of our heroes when things break bad.

Starting with many corporate sponsors, a little bit of back story, and then a whole bunch of excitement, Jurassic World fits perfectly as an amusement park ride of a movie. The film may not be as great as Jurassic Park was (the movie even seems to agree with this idea during its third act), but it’s certainly worth taking a trip to.

Jurassic World is in theaters now, and is already available for pre-order on Amazon.com and iTunes.

Tomorrowland (2015): A Review

On paper, Tomorrowland was a film designed and built for, well, me.

Directed and co-written by Brad Bird, who after The Iron Giant, The Incredibles, Ratatouille and Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol is one of my favorite filmmakers, and set in a retro-future full of jetpacks, jumpsuits and beautiful angular buildings (an aesthetic I love, if the rocket in the Blast-O-Rama logo isn’t clear enough), the movie seemed to be checking off every box on my personal checklist.

The trailers had been mostly mysterious, a tale of a young girl and a pin, and a world beyond ours. But how did the final film turn out? I absolutely loved it.

Teenager Casey Newton (Under The Dome’s Britt Robinson) is our entry into the world of Tomorrowland. Living in today’s world (or one of those “not-too-distant" futures), Casey laments what our world of wonder has become. She lives near Cape Canaveral, where a NASA launch site is about to become dismantled - putting her father (Tim McGraw) out of work, and ruining her childhood dream to see the stars. She’s hit with the same ideas in school - the world is ending, war is imminent, we’re screwed, we can’t do anything about it. But even with all of that she wants to know simply - “How can we fix it?“ Then one day, fate intervenes as she discovers a mysterious T-shaped pin - that when she touches it, shows her an amazing world beyond anything we thought possible.

Cut from the same cloth as last year’s Interstellar - although a more optimistic part of it - Tomorrowland is an adventure about achieving something more, achieving greatness. In the vein of Disney live-action classics like Return to Oz or the Amblin Entertainment films of the 80’s, it’s a family friendly journey grounded with realistic characters, even in the most ridiculous of situations.

Tomorrowland sends us as far back as the 1964 World’s Fair, in as beautiful locales as Paris, France, and into the darkest parts of a wall-to-wall filled sci-fi toy shop. It’s a film peppered with jetpacks, robots of different shapes and sizes, and a cranky George Clooney, playing a recluse inventor with a very special connection to Tomorrowland.

Above all else, Tomorrowland serves as a call to action of sorts. We’re in a dark, cynical world - reminded 24 hours a day, 7 days a week about how everything is dying, the Earth is irreparable, and war is at our doorstep. But what the film asks - between incredibly fun action sequences, beautiful imagery, and another fantastic score by Michael Giacchino - is what could we be if we decided to push forward and make the best world we can, even with adversity breathing down our neck?

Brad Bird has been dealing with this sort of storytelling over his past films - The Incredibles showcasing why those who are special should be allowed to indulge their abilities, Ratatouille showing that anyone has the ability to be special - but Tomorrowland acts as a call to action of sorts. If we can all be greater, why aren’t we? And it’s that intense optimism that enveloped me during Tomorrowland.

Yes, the movie isn’t perfect - there’s some third act problems, and some questions I had weren’t well addressed - but even with those issues, you have a movie that captivated me for every one of its 130 minutes, with a great cast, stellar performances, and amazing imagery. If you can’t fall in love with a film as a character glides through a retro-futuristic city on a homemade jetpack, you may be a little dead inside.

Be accepting of the movies flaws, and let it take you away. Touch the pin and see Tomorrowland. You might just want to make for a better tomorrow.

Ex Machina (2015): A Review

Following in the footsteps of such classics as Blade Runner, Ex Machina sets us into another exploration into what Artificial Intelligence could do to humanity, and what it says about our wishes to create.

With a small scale focus - just three characters, one major set - Ex Machina gives us three unique perspectives from which to view this question - Creator, Creation, User.

The user in this case is Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson), a programmer for “Bluebook", a search engine company, chosen via lottery to visit the company’s CEO, Nathan (Oscar Issac). Nathan is, of course, the Creator. Using all of the input data from Bluebook - user searches, images, microphone data from cellphones - he’s attempted to create a new form of A.I.. The creation? That’s Ava (Alicia Vikander). Ava is Nathan’s latest revision, and it’s up to Caleb to serve as the prompt for the Turing Test, a test which determines how believable an A.I. is.

The movie takes us through Caleb’s testing process - day by day, going deeper and deeper, learning more about Ava and the complexity of her consciousness. This is all as Nathan watches and observes, looking to improve Ava with each step.

What follows is a mediation on everything from morals, to sex, love, humanity and the effects of creating something so close to humanity that it may as well BE human.

That said - the movie’s biggest strength is the movie’s biggest flaw. It mediates, it never judges. It shows, it never tells. The big questions are asked, but few are answered. Perhaps this is the intent of writer Alex Garland (of 28 Days Later fame, who is making his directorial debut here), but I can’t help but feel a bit empty in the end.

The movie remains captivating, even through to it’s somewhat predictable third act, and that’s very much due to the incredible cast. Domhnall Gleeson feels just right as Caleb, amazed to be selected for such a key task. Oscar Issac’s Nathan is the perfect “brogrammer", mixing his beers and coding with intense workouts. But without Alicia Vikander’s Ava, it’d all be for naught. She is incredibly captivating every moment she’s on screen - humanized enough to be believable, but maintaining enough distance in her performance to be perceived as robotic. It’s a risky role, but she carries it well.

Ex Machina may not have the answers to some of the biggest questions about Artificial Intelligence, but in asking the questions it does, the results are a captivating film you cannot ignore. If you enjoy sci-fi of a more intimate, subtle style, you’ll absolutely love it.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015): A Review

Mad Max: Fury Road is one of the most delightfully insane, action packed and downright enthralling movies I’ve ever seen. A very, very high bar has officially been set for Summer 2015.

The first Mad Max film in thirty years (since 1985’s Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome), it may be surprising to hear that Max himself (portrayed by Tom Hardy, filling the iconic shoulderpads of Mel Gibson) is not the hero of this story.

Instead, the movie is more the tale of Imperator Furiosa, a one-armed, facepainted bad-ass (Charlize Theron). Furiosa is a driver for the War Boys, one of the cults that have taken over the post-apocalyptic desert that is the world. Under the guise of a gasoline collection trip, Furiosa hops in her war rig and seeks to remove the “Five Wives" - five young “queens" (read: sex slaves) betrothed to the War Boys leader, the horrific King Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne) - from their plight and take them to freedom.

How does Max get involved in this mess? By being in the wrong place at the wrong time. At the beginning of the film, Max (having PTSD visions of poor decisions in his past) is kidnapped by the War Boys, and due to his having a universal donor blood type is quickly strapped to the sickly Nux (Nicholas Hoult). Nux becomes one of the many War Boys sent in pursuit of Furiosa, complete with his personal blood bag (Max) attached by a combination IV-drip and chain.

What follows is one of the most unbelievable action films I’ve ever seen. Essentially a two-hour chase sequence, Mad Max: Fury Road is a glorious cacophony of fire, spikes, explosions, wheels, speed and insanity. Full of surreal sights (such as a truck made up of speakers, with a full set of war drums in the back, and a guitarist performing in the front - why YES, the guitar DOES shoot flame), jaw-dropping stunts, and some of the best action choreography ever put to the big screen, Fury Road puts countless films to shame.

And who would’ve thought the source? Director George Miller, now 70 years old, returns to the franchise that made his career after fourteen years of false starts. You may believe that focusing on the Babe and Happy Feet franchises (plus a short-lived trip into doing a Justice League movie, cancelled days before production began) would’ve made Miller soft with age, but here, he drops the mic, essentially asking the rest of the action filmmaking world “Can you top this?“

Dialogue is relatively sparse through the film, our characters sketched more by their actions than their words, but it works across the board. Seeing Furiosa become an incredible leader is just as effective as seeing Max’s transformation from a distrusting wild dog to a proper hero through the course of the film. Even the Five Wives (portrayed by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Riley Keough, ZoÁ« Kravitz, Abbey Lee, and Courtney Eaton) get subtle arcs of their own, where in other films, you’d expect them to be painted with the same brush.

What’s really interesting? For a movie set in a dying world, Mad Max: Fury Road contains amazing life in every frame. You can tell the film was a concept artists dream, with incredible costumes, memorable creatures, horrific versions of humanity and stunning landscapes filling the screen.

Fury Road re-defines the Mad Max franchise for a new generation while setting a new bar for action filmmaking to come. It’s art as blockbuster entertainment, and I can’t wait to watch it again and again. See it immediately.

Maggie (2015): A Review

Since his return to films from the world of politics in 2013 with The Last Stand, movie fans have been waiting for Arnold Schwarzenegger to get a role he could sink his teeth into.

While far from being the most original film, I’m happy to say that Maggie gives Arnold a chance to showcase a side of him we’ve never seen - and the movie is all the stronger for it.

Coming off of the current wave of hot zombie properties such as The Walking Dead, Maggie takes a smaller, more intimate approach to your standard “virus hits, zombies appear” world.

Feeling much like the world found in the hit video game The Last of Us, Maggie enters us into a world where the zombie outbreak is still somewhat fresh - and the virus still being studied. Farmers are burning their crops to prevent contamination, and those who are found with the virus are being put into quarantine to be studied.

Schwarzenegger plays Wade - a strong, stoic father. His teenage daughter Maggie, played by the Academy Award nominated Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine), finds herself bitten after she runs away from home. And with the clock ticking until she turns, he decides to take her into his farmhouse until things get worse.

From that description alone, you can see that the scope is smaller than even the most inmate of recent “zombie outbreak” films. In this instance, the trope of becoming one of the undead could be seen as an allegory for any number of illnesses - but ultimately, the movie focuses on the idea of a strong man losing his daughter to a disease he can’t prevent.

Performances across the board are reserved, yet strong. But it’s really Schwarzenegger who surprises. Playing subtle (which has never been his forte), you’re more amazed by seeing the pain and intimacy of his performance than any of the explosions found in his recent filmography. Yes, the characters presented in Maggie seem to be loosely written ideas, but it gives Breslin and Schwazenegger the freedom to explore and own each moment.

First-time director Henry Hobson, combined with first-time writer John Scott 3, give Maggie a heavy, depressed feel, which weighs over every frame. The movie is rarely horrific, but a sense of dread and sadness is felt throughout.

Maggie isn’t a movie that’s going to win awards, or going to blow you away, but it’s a film that captivates for each of its 95 minutes. A showcase for a different Schwarzenegger than we’ve known before, if you give the movie the time - it will draw you in.

Maggie is currently available on VOD via iTunes and Amazon Instant Watch, and is in select theaters.

The New 'Muppets' Show Looks Fantastic

This week is “upfront” week, where the networks show off their new programs to gain advertisers, and in turn we’ve been getting a lot of new trailers.

For the most part, the slate of new shows coming to television for the 2015-2016 season left me cold. Honestly - that’s been true of me with television lately, anyway. Yes, the great shows are better than ever, but the shows I really make time for are few and far between. Basically - if it’s not an original show on HBO or Netflix, I really haven’t been watching it regularly.

My hopes were dashed after watching the preview for Fox’s Minority Report adaptation, which did nothing for me. But ABC’s new The Muppets show? This looks GREAT.

www.youtube.com/watch

Yes, they’re aping the docu-series feel found in The Office, Parks And Recreation and Modern Family, but it just feels so right for these characters - who, even as puppets, still feel more alive than the casts of the majority of shows on TV.

I’ll be watching the heck out of this on ABC this Fall. Anything grab you for the 2015-2016 season?

Marvel Prepares For War: New 'Civil War' and 'Infinity War' Details

This post contains spoilers for Avengers: Age of Ultron. Proceed at your own risk.

The Age of Ultron arrived just one week ago with record-setting box office both domestically and abroad, but Marvel Studios isn’t letting up, revealing early details on the Phase 3 kick-off, Captain America: Civil War, and the Phase 3 finale, the epic, two-part Avengers: Infinity War.

The third Captain America installment is starting to look like an Avengers film in its own right, with Marvel releasing the official cast list and synopsis earlier today.

What do we know? From the plot listing, maybe not all that much:

We know coming out of Age of Ultron, Captain America (Chris Evans) and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) aren’t exactly seeing eye-to-eye, and based off of the comic book story where Civil War gains its title, we’re going to see the split built around these two iconic heroes.

That said - there are a lot of heroes scheduled for this film. We have Cap’s team of New Avengers: Black Widow (Scarlett Johannson), Scarlett Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), Falcon (Anthony Mackie), War Machine (Don Cheadle) and Vision (Paul Bettany). Also scheduled for the film? Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Sebastian Stan returning as Bucky (also known as the Winter Soldier), the debuting Black Panther (played by Chadwick Boseman), and as we learned earlier this week, Emilly VanCamp returning as Sharon Carter (last seen in The Winter Soldier), and Martin Freeman in an unnamed role.

Villain wise, Frank Grillo returns as Brock Rumlow (I think we’ll see him as Crossbones here), and Daniel BrÁ¼hl has been all but confirmed as playing legendary Marvel villain Baron Zemo (I believe he’s the “new and nefarious" villain listed in the official logline.)

What’s really cool? This press release also confirms two unexpected additions to the cast - Paul Rudd as Ant-Man (who makes his debut later this Summer), and William Hurt returning as General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt" Ross, which may make for the first time the MCU has openly referenced The Incredible Hulk since the film’s release in 2008.

It’s a lot of things to balance, and honestly - I’m thinking this is going to be more Civil War in name, than Civil War in action. I don’t think Cap is going to die, but I do think we’re going to see a schism between our heroes…a schism that puts Tony and Steve face to face, and allows the movie to focus on their conflicts, with everyone else popping up in essentially cameo roles.

I could be wrong, of course, but I feel like that Marvel has to be calling this Captain America: Civil War instead of Avengers: Civil War for a reason, besides making for a Captain America Trilogy. That said, we’re going to be seeing a lot of characters pulled off the table for about two years, as Marvel looks into new heroes like Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel, and someone named Spider-Man to fill the Avengers void between Civil War and Infinity War.

Speaking of Infinity War, things are moving forward with the next Avengers installment, going the Harry Potter/Hunger Games route of wrapping up the series in a massive two-part installment. We already knew that the Russo Brothers, who directed Captain America: The Winter Soldier and are directing Captain America: Civil War would be in the director’s chair(s) for both Infinity War installments, which will be filming back to back, Lord of the Rings style, but today brought two other bits of news.

First and foremost, writers Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely - who have written all three Captain America films - will be writing the script for both parts of Infinity War. Additionally, to help emphasize the massive scale of Infinity War, both films will be the first shot completely using a new IMAX Digital Camera. We’ve seen many blockbuster films shoot sequences with the traditional IMAX film cameras - with Christopher Nolan pushing the boundaries of what can be done with them in movies like The Dark Knight and Interstellar, but Infinity War will be shot front-to-back using this new IMAX/Arri Digital Camera. We’ll first see the skill of these cameras in Captain America: Civil War, as “select action sequences" will be shot for that film using this new technology.

It’s a huge, epic time for Marvel Studios, and they’re going all out to stick the landing. Say what you will about Age of Ultron - I had a great time with it myself - but you have to admire what Marvel Studios is doing here. They promised that they’d deliver a proper comic book experience in movie theaters, and they’ve succeeded - massive crossovers and all.

Captain America: Civil War hits theaters May 6, 2016, with Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 hitting on May 4, 2018, and Avengers: Infinity War Part 2 bringing it all together on May 3, 2019.

Happy Star Wars Day: New FORCE AWAKENS Photos And ANTHOLOGY Details

With the first Star Wars movie in over a decade hitting theaters later this year, Lucasfilm and Vanity Fair did everything they could today to keep fans at a fever-pitch for the 2015 Star Wars Day.

Star Wars Day - chosen as May 4th due to the wonderfully awful pun “May The Fourth Be With You" - has been a great day for fans of the sci-fi saga. Heck, even a few years ago, the amazing new trailer.

What better way to keep the audience interested than by revealing new images and character details via Vanity Fair? Slowly dripped throughout the day, fans were enamored with every detail. Following similar profiles by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz done for the Prequel Trilogy, the May 2015 issue of Vanity Fair will feature a full profile on the film. To drum up interest, new images, info, and even a behind the scenes video was released throughout the day.

[caption id=“attachment_20352” align=“aligncenter” width=“600”] “Chewie, there are other people in our home."[/caption]

First - we had the fantastic cover for the issue, featuring Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) alongside the new cast members of Finn (John Boyega), Rey (Daisy Ridley) and rolling droid BB—8 (BB—8).

Phase two hit later in the wee hours of the morning, with some behind the scenes footage shown in a brief video, embedded below.

www.youtube.com/watch

Then - just in time for prime morning surfing - six brand new images from the making of the film were released, including a look at Rey on her speeder, Poe Dameron (Oscar Issac) getting out of his X-Wing, a maskless Kylo Ren flanked by the new generation Snowtroopers (revealed as Girls’ Adam Driver), a look at Lupita Nyong’o performing motion capture - eventually being alien pirate Maz Kanata, an incredible wide-shot of some of the practical (!) aliens from the film, and a lovely “family" shot of the brain trust behind The Force Awakens.

[gallery ids=“20356,20355,20353,20354,20357,20350”]

It all came together at 4pm today, with the reveal of the other main villain for the film - dubbed by fans as the “Chrometrooper" after her appearance in the latest teaser, Game of Thrones’ Gwendoline Christie is confirmed as First Order officer Captain Phasma. She looks super intimidating.

[caption id=“attachment_20351” align=“aligncenter” width=“442”] Very shiny. Very cool.[/caption]

If that all wasn’t enough - while not from Vanity Fair - word broke late this evening about the second Star Wars Anthology film. Director Josh Trank (Chronicle) left the project this past weekend, but worry not - the movie will be about bounty hunter Boba Fett. So yeah, they’re going to make all the money.

Star Wars The Force Awakens hits theaters on December 18th. The untitled Boba Fett film is currently set for a 2018 release.

Harley & The Boys: 'Suicide Squad' Revealed

You know what? I don’t hate this.

Sunday evening, Suicide Squad director David Ayers took to Twitter to once again reveal a characters look - or in this case, MOST characters looks for “Task Squad X", also known as the titular team with a death wish.

To my shock? The costumes are mostly pretty sensible and in line with the existing characters.

[caption id=“attachment_20341” align=“aligncenter” width=“600”] Click for a full-sized image.[/caption]

From left to right, we’ve got Adam Beach as Slipknot, Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang, Cara Delevingne as Enchantress, Karen Fukuhara (down below, kneeling) as Katana, Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flagg, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Will Smith as Deadshot, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Killer Croc, and Jay Hernandez as El Diablo.

Definitely a better collection of costumes visually than the nightmare (literally and figuratively) that is Jared Leto’s Joker. Katana looks great, as does Captain Boomerang. Killer Croc may be too small but is otherwise A-OK, and I’m surprised at how subtle and decent Harley Quinn looks! The real surprise? Will Smith NOT being the man in front.

Congrats, Ayers. You’ve got my attention.

Suicide Squad hits theaters on August 5, 2016.

UPDATE: Thanks to Will Smith’s Facebook, we’ve got an official look at him in his mask as Deadshot. Still not bad. Although I wonder what that text around his neck says.

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015): A Review

In 2012, Marvel Studios did the unthinkable. Building off of five successful superhero films, they set a bar that countless studios have been chasing ever since with the multi-billion dollar success of The Avengers. It was a joyous celebration of all things comic book and superhero. We were no longer seeing an adaptation of our heroes, we were seeing them become real.

How did Marvel celebrate? By subverting their own brand. The next four films - “Phase 2", as it was dubbed by fans and the studio alike - took an established formula and mutated it, by creating unique mash-ups with other genres. Iron Man 3 brought Shane Black into the Marvel fold, who gave us a Tony Stark adventure more akin to a version of Lethal Weapon with endless robot suits. Thor: The Dark World mashed up classic fantasy with far-out sci-fi imagery, topped with a Portal-esq ending. Captain America: The Winter Soldier somehow took one of the most classic heroes in the Marvel lexicon, and made him a paranoid part of modern society with tastes of 70’s political thrillers and The Bourne Identity. The biggest surprise? The success of Guardians of the Galaxy, a cosmic adventure that took obscure characters, surreal humor, and a classic pop soundtrack and made it an inescapable joy.

Each film of “Phase 2" became a success because it tried to not be a comic book. It tried to be more.

Now, Phase 2 begins to close by returning to the peak, with Avengers: Age of Ultron. And how does Marvel celebrate? By making the most “comic-book-y" film ever rendered in live action form.

Avengers: Age of Ultron is an issue #2 in the comic world. We have had our heroes established. We understand their relationships. And now it’s time to dig deeper, go further, and stack complication upon complication upon complication. It’s a messy mixture to balance, let alone carry, but some way, some how, Joss Whedon (returning as writer and director from the first Avengers film) found a way to make it happen.

It’s an absolute struggle to try to piece together every single through-line of plot here - ESPECIALLY without spoilers. There are many masters served, with references to pretty much every single Marvel Cinematic Universe film to date. It can be exhausting, and the movie isn’t really interested in slowing itself down to make sure you keep up. But that’s the point, isn’t it? This is part 2 of the Avengers, part 11 of the MCU - you’re either in or out at this point, and if you’re in…you have quite a bit to enjoy here.

The action sequences are over-the-top and joyous. The quips are plentiful and quotable. Every character gets their moment to shine - even ones who you may not expect to see - and our new additions in the Maximoff Twins, superhuman speedster Pietro (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and magical spell-maker Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) are fantastic additions to an already incredible, ever-growing ensemble cast. Fans may worry about Pietro (or as comic fans know him, Quicksilver) paling in comparison to how he was seen in last Summer’s X-Men: Days of Future Past, and thankfully Marvel went in a different direction with this version, with some elements making this version able to live on its own. Olsen does strong work as Wanda (also known as the Scarlet Witch), with the appropriate angst and distance the character requires at this state of her heroics career.

Fans would also be delighted to hear that the three heroes without their own franchises - The Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye - really get to take center stage. Or at least as close to the center as one can be in such a packed stage. Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye gets some amazing growth and additions to his character - sorely needed after his relative non-presence in The Avengers - and while some differences may bother fans of the character, there’s no doubt that Renner is the heart of the film. He gets the best line of the movie to boot.

The biggest surprise? The humanity found in our robotic villain. Dark, ruminating, and always ready with a quip, Ultron (James Spader) is a shadowy echo of his “father", Tony Stark. I didn’t expect so much life out of this destructive AI, and speaking of life - JARVIS (Paul Bettany) is seen in ways that we never expected to see him before, adding some of the films most memorable moments.

I cannot begin to fathom the weight of putting together Avengers: Age of Ultron. The Avengers was a once-in-a-lifetime movie event. Anything that Marvel Studios chose to do as a follow up wouldn’t be able to touch the feeling of seeing our heroes assemble for the first time. But what they were able to accomplish, while sowing the seeds of Phase 2 and planting the seeds for Phase 3, is a rousing and enjoyable adventure filled with faces and characters you know and love. Action, adventure, drama - and yes - romance come together for a pure, uncut line of blockbuster entertainment that goes straight for your veins.

It’s not The Avengers. It can’t be. But Age of Ultron knows what it needed to be, and it delivers in spades. Now bring on the next installment.

Jared Leto's Joker, REVEALED!

Last night, director David Ayer - who is helming the 3rd film of the DC Cinematic Universe, Suicide Squad - took to the Internet to celebrate the Joker’s 75th Birthday and give fans a glimpse of the film’s main villain: Jared Leto’s Joker.

It’s not what we expected, that’s for sure.

Taking the archetypical version of the Joker and mashing him up with, I dunno, I suppose Lil’ Wayne?, has resulted in this new vision of the Joker for the modern age.

[caption id=“attachment_20323” align=“aligncenter” width=“600”] He’s not quite sure how magnets work.[/caption]

You know, I understand the logic - they want to remove the character from the Ledger interpretation (which in and of itself was a wilder, more extreme version of the classic Joker look), but I can’t help but feel like this version is too far. The tattoos (including the way too on-the-nose “Damaged" on his forehead), the grill, all of it just screams desperation, and decidedly makes the look dated as soon as it appears.

I think this image is a perfect example of what Warner Bros is getting wrong with their DC Comics movies. Marvel Studios takes their rich history of characters and simplifies them to make them work for greater audiences. Based on Man of Steel, the trailer for Batman v. Superman, and now this image of Jared Leto’s Joker, it’s clear that the goal isn’t to create lasting interpretations of these characters, but instead take the DC Universe and jam it into a more extreme, darker version of the source material.

Thus far, from what I’ve seen across the web, the fan response has been anything but optimistic, with many jokes being made at the expense of the character and the look. That, of course, should be taken with a grain of salt, as anyone who wants to Google far back enough knows that fans hated the announcement of Michael Keaton as Batman for the 1989 Tim Burton edition and the announcement of Heath Ledger as Joker in The Dark Knight. This felt different to me, however. Jared Leto is coming off of an incredible, transformative performance in Dallas Buyers Club. If I could see anyone going the distance as the Joker, it’d be him. But instead, we’re given this version, which - visually at the least (as we haven’t seen footage) - is an absolute joke.

Maybe I’m wrong - God knows I’d like to be optimistic (and honestly, that’s been a goal here at Blast-O-Rama, to be more optimistic about the culture I consume) - but right now, this feels like such a dramatic misunderstanding of the characters and the universe they’re interpreting, that the movies can’t help but leave long-time fans disappointed. It’s decisions like these, I feel, that left Man of Steel a $700 million dollar movie instead of a $1 Billion dollar movie. And I think we’ll continue to see DC’s films chase the tail of Marvel’s, until they get the point.

I’m now really scared about how they’ll present Harley Quinn.

Jared Leto’s Joker will be seen next Summer in Suicide Squad, due in theaters on August 5, 2016. Unless, of course, he gets a surprise appearance in Batman v. Superman.

DC Comics Launches 'DC Super Hero Girls', And I'm Skeptical

You can’t say that DC Comics isn’t trying, folks.

They’re building a cinematic universe. They’re refreshing their comics. And now, after much demand, they’re building a girl-centric brand - but I’m wondering if it’s more problematic than positive.

Yesterday, DC Comics officially announced its DC Super Hero Girls initiative, coming this Fall. It will include books, toys, TV specials, direct-to-video animation - everything you’ve come to expect from a massive multi-media push.

[caption id=“attachment_20315” align=“aligncenter” width=“600”] The DC Super Hero Girls, in full.[/caption]

Lets first address the positive - they’re finally embracing female fans. After so much backlash (which really came up after Young Justice was cancelled, due to not selling enough “boys” toys and having a strong female fanbase), DC is heading to where the puck is - and will be - and is aiming to get female fans interested early. Hopefully with these fans growing up and picking up female-positive books like the current run of Batgirl and the forthcoming Black Canary.

That said - I have some concerns (which, by my own admission, as a boring white male, probably aren’t going to be as well phrased as those from an actual female). This feels like a pandering move in some ways.

You have your Burger King Kids Club-esq expansion to go deep and push diversity (Katana and Bumblebee have been in obscurity for ages - which hopefully changes here). You have a very Disney Princess-esq redesign of the characters, which subverts the strength of many of these characters (I do really like the Harley Quinn re-design though). Heck, even the name bugs me a bit.

In many ways, this feels like when Nerf made its female-centric line, or when LEGO created LEGO Friends. It’s nice to see them admit that there’s a proper female fanbase, but why do they have to say “Oh, the ‘normal’ thing? That’s for BOYS. Here’s your GIRL version.”

Like I said above, however - if this leads to a greater accessibility and interest for the world of comics, and DC is smart enough to keep producing books to interest their growing female fanbase, this can be a great thing. I’m just cynical of their goals, and wondering how much of this is a genuine outreach, and how much is pandering.  But hey, in this regard, they’re batting better than Marvel these days.

Lord and Miller To Helm 'Spider-Man' Animated Film

We know that Marvel Studios is moving full steam ahead with their Spider-Man movie due in 2017 (there’s even a list surfacing of possible leads - Spoiler: Bunch of White Dudes!), but what else does Sony have up their sleeve?

Possibly the best idea for a Spider-Man movie in ages.

Announced yesterday at CinemaCon - which is a convention for movie theater owners, not another of the many pop-culture conventions that exist - Sony is moving full speed ahead with an animated Spider-Man film helmed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, they of 21 Jump Street, The LEGO Movie and Clone High fame.

Here’s the official press release:

On July 20, 2018, Phil Lord & Christopher Miller the directors of The Lego Movie, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and 21 and 22 Jump Street, are taking Spider-Man back to his graphic roots with the first-of-its-kind animated Spider-Man feature, it was announced today at CinemaCon by Tom Rothman, chairman of the Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group. The film will exist independently of the projects in the live-action Spider-Man universe, all of which are continuing.

Lord & Miller are masterminding the project, writing the treatment and producing the film.

As previously announced, Spider-Man will next appear in a live-action Marvel film from Marvel’s Cinematic Universe (MCU). Sony Pictures will thereafter release the next installment of its $4 billion Spider-Man franchise, on July 28, 2017, a live-action film being produced by Kevin Feige at Marvel and Amy Pascal, who oversaw the franchise launch for the studio 13 years ago. The animated film from Lord & Miller, dated July 20, 2018, has Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach, and Pascal also serving as producers.

Really, my only concern? This is the first Lord and Miller project that sounds like a GOOD idea on paper! As I say like a broken record about them, their entire career has been built around making amazing, absurd pop-culture masterpieces out of absolutely awful ideas. And in this instance - we have Lord and Miller working on something that I’m excited about just from a few paragraphs!

We’ll see how it comes together. I know that I’m waiting with bated breath. It’s not often that some of my favorite creators get to work on my favorite fictional character of all time. There are so many things to consider - the visual style, the sense of humor (this will undoubtedly be the most quippy on-screen Spider-Man yet), and also how self-aware the movie is - given how Lord and Miller do their projects, anything with the troubled history of Spider-Man films is probably on the table for skewering.

The as yet untitled Spider-Man animated film hits theaters on July 20, 2018.

'Star Trek 3' Has A Title?

The road to the third Star Trek installment has been a bumpy one, but with a writer, director and release date set, we’re inching ever closer to seeing the latest adventure featuring Kirk and crew on the big screen.

How much closer? It sounds like we have an official title set for the film.

According to TrekMovie.com, a leading website for all things Star Trek related, the third film will be titled Star Trek Beyond. According to their sources within the MPAA, the title was officially registered recently, indicating that this is likely the title for the next movie, due next Summer.

This continues the “no colon” trend found with Star Trek Into Darkness, and speaks to the rumors of the new installment being more exploration focused, as opposed to the more Earth-bound installments since JJ Abrams relaunched the franchise in 2009.

With Simon Pegg co-writing the film with Doug Jung (Dark Blue), and Fast & Furious director Justin Lin taking over from Abrams (who is staying on as a producer), I feel confident that the third Trek is in good hands, and I hope that this third film - titled Beyond or not - will be the 50th Anniversary gift Trek fans around the globe have been waiting for.

Star Trek 3 - or Star Trek Beyond hits theaters on July 8, 2016.

'Daredevil' Gets A Second Season!

Based on the fan response I’ve heard since its release just about two weeks ago, there’s no denying - Daredevil is an absolute hit.

The first of five series heading to Netflix from Marvel Studios, I wondered if we were going to see AKA Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist and The Defenders on Netflix before they ever considered a second season of Daredevil. Good news everyone! A second season is now set for 2016!

Marvel announced the good news yesterday on their website. Now, while a second season of Daredevil is good news - there’s a slight bummer attached to the announcement. Season 1 showrunner Steven DeKnight will not be with the show, with Doug Petrie (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,“ “American Horror Story") and Marco Ramirez (“Sons of Anarchy") taking over as showrunners.

Petrie and Ramirez worked on Season 1 alongside DeKnight, so they’re at least keeping the show “in the family", so hopefully we won’t see too much change.

Daredevil Season 2 will hit Netflix in 2016.

You Wanted to See 'Tomorrowland'?! Have a New Trailer!

Thus far, the marketing for Tomorrowland has been cryptic, to say the least.

With glimpses of a retro-futuristic world based on the Disney park attraction, George Clooney, and a magical pin, moviegoers haven’t had too much to hedge a bet on - besides the good name of director Brad Bird (Iron Giant).

That changes today.

With trailer #3, we see all sorts of crazy action that the movie has in store for us. I now feel like I’ve seen so much more, but still know so little about this crazy sci-fi film hitting this Summer. And isn’t that really cool, and REALLY REALLY REFRESHING?

www.youtube.com/watch

I was sold on Bird and Clooney. Now I have more ammo to arm my movie crazy friends with. I am all in on Tomorrowland.

Tomorrowland hits theaters on May 22, 2015.

The Park Is Open: New 'Jurassic World' Trailer

As promised over the weekend, the new, full trailer for Colin Trevorrow’s Jurassic World is here, and it certainly looks like that everything that CAN go wrong, WILL go wrong in the June release.

www.youtube.com/watch

Remember everything that Richard Hammond and company were worried about in Jurassic Park, about the terror that could’ve happened if the Park were open to the public? Yeah - that looks like what happens in Jurassic World, with the terror magnified by the addition of a corporately mandated genetically modified dinosaur called the Indominus Rex, which not only is larger and seemingly more deadly than a T-Rex…it’s smarter too.

Jurassic World looks to be full of the intense dinosaur action we’ve come to know from the franchise, and with Chris Pratt as our wisecrackin' entry point, I have hopes that it’s going to be a highlight of the Summer.

Jurassic World hits theaters on June 12, 2015.

Countdown To Trailer 2: 3 New 'Jurassic World' Posters

Sometime tomorrow, we’re supposed to get a brand new trailer for Jurassic World. Jurassic World, the fourth film in the Jurassic Park franchise has long been pegged to be one of the biggest films of Summer 2015 (even after a god-awful clip surfaced) - but you know that Hollywood can’t just have us wait on a new trailer right? Hence THREE NEW POSTERS!

These posters come to us from the magic of Twitter.

Friday gave us a look at Bryce Dallas Howard starring down at the Indominus Rex, the genetically enhanced “evil" dinosaur of the film.

Saturday brought us a poster of the Mosasaurus - that’s the one you see chowing down on a shark in the first trailer.

But Sunday saved the best for last - as we have Chris Pratt and his Raptor Squad - or as they forever shall be known, the Chris Praptors.

Can the trailer match up to the awesome of Sunday’s poster? Probably not. But we’re hoping for the best. See you tomorrow with the details.

Jurassic World is unleashed to theaters on June 12, 2015.

2 New Street Art Styled 'Batman v Superman' Posters

With just about 24 hours to go until the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice IMAX Event in movie theaters across the country, director Zack Snyder has taken to Twitter to give fans another special sneak peak.

This time? It’s a look at two new posters for the film (one Batman, one Superman), which I assume will be free giveaways at the theaters.

[gallery ids=“20282,20283”]

The street-art feel of the posters is certainly a unique one to take - I doubt that this will be the feel for the marketing of the film proper - but I like the unique feel for these giveaways. We’ll have to see tomorrow night if fans get anything else at these events as well. I’d love to hear about some exclusive Wonder Woman or Aquaman footage.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice hits theaters March 25, 2016.

DOOM COMETH: New 'Fantastic Four' Trailer

One of the biggest question marks this Summer is the latest adaptation of the classic Marvel comic series Fantastic Four. After two mostly forgettable installments in the mid—2000’s, Fantastic Four is being rebooted under the eye of Chronicle director Josh Trank, and today, we have a new preview of the film.

The first trailer definitely grabbed my attention, applying a darker, Cronenberg-ian body horror feel to the classic superhero tale. I’m not sure what separates this from other films where I feel a dark interpretation misses the mark - but from what I’ve seen so far, this unique adaptation of the story of Mr. Fantastic, The Human Torch, The Invisible Woman and The Thing is a revised version I really want to see.

www.youtube.com/watch

Today’s trailer gives us a closer look into how the cast interacts. A practical “who’s who" of young Hollywood, we have Miles Teller (Whiplash) as Reed Richards, Kate Mara (House of Cards) as Sue Storm, Michael B. Jordan (Fruitvale Station) as Johnny Storm, and Jamie Bell (The Adventures of Tintin) as Ben Grimm. I really like what we see of them in this trailer, including the awkward exchanges between the brainy Reed Richards and the super-cool Johnny Storm.

The X-Factor? The very brief glimpses of Doctor Doom. Once again, Doom takes the stage as the villain of the film, and Doom is a character dying for an awesome movie interpretations. The version presented in the two prior Fantastic Four films was awful to say the least, so the bar is low - let’s hope they can excel far beyond it.

If you’re looking for a closer look at the “new" Fantastic Four, a poster was released today as well, showcasing the leads in all their glory - including a very, very rocky version of the Thing.  It’s kind of a Photoshop disaster, but on the whole, I like the feel of their suits.

Fantastic Four releases on August 7, 2015.

Star Wars Celebration: First 'Rogue One' Details

Yes, even MORE news coming out of Star Wars Celebration.

You thought new trailers for The Force Awakens and Rebels Season Two were enough? Lucasfilm says PSSH to you! As we now have the first, concrete information on the first “spin-off" film, Rogue One, directed by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla).

Collider has probably one of the most in-depth write-ups of the panel, which was one of the few to not be live-streamed this weekend.

While fans didn’t necessarily walk away with all of the information, what was shared is certainly enough to whet fans appetites (myself included), and justify the idea of a new Star Wars film every year.

Among the tidbits worth referencing:

Additionally, a brief proof-of-concept teaser, and some concept art were shown. The only versions of each online at the time of this writing are fan-shot, and none are really what I’d call “great", so I’m abstaining from posting them.

Any way you slice it - Rogue One is sounding like it’s on the right track.

One small bit that concerns me - director Josh Trank, who is set to direct a 2018 Anthology Film, was NOT at the panel as originally announced. More on him in our next post, but given some rumors about him through the Fantastic Four production process, this leads me to start worrying. I loved Chronicle, Fantastic Four looks great, and I have strong hopes for a Trank-directed Star Wars - but a last minute bail out due to illness? It sounds like they had an hour worth of panel set without him, so something sounds…off. Lets hope for the best.

Star Wars: Rogue One hits theaters on December 16, 2016.

Star Wars Celebration: First Look At 'Rebels' Season 2!

Yesterday at Star Wars Celebration the focus shifted from the epics coming to the big screen to the great work being done on the small screen, as fans got their first look at season two of Star Wars: Rebels.

I have to admit - I didn’t make my way through all of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, having just watched the first two seasons. They were well executed, for sure, but they focused on a timeline (the prequels) that I was pretty much done with - even as an admitted prequel apologist.

I’ve been meaning to get caught up on what I missed via Netflix, but I’ve heard even more wonderful things about Star Wars: Rebels, the new series that takes place between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope airing on Disney XD. I’ve caught a handful of episodes, and all indications are that it’s a great, fun series taking place in an uncharted part of the Star Wars mythos.

With the new trailer that premiered this weekend, however? I’m definitely in.

youtu.be/Av8GjpGK9…

You’ve got James Earl Jones returning as Vader, returns of some fan favorite characters from The Clone Wars, and an overall vibe that now that Dave Filoni and team have laid the groundwork, Season Two is going to really make Rebels something special. They also unveiled some very, very cool artwork for Season Two, appearing below.

There’s no set airdate for the new season of Star Wars Rebels (word is a Summer premiere, followed by the season proper in the Fall), but I now know I’ve definitely got to get caught up on iTunes or something.

The Battle Begins: 'Batman v. Superman' Teaser Released

Earlier than expected, Warner Bros and DC Comics have whet the appetites of fans around the world with the release of the first teaser for 2016’s Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Set as the second film of the DC Comics Cinematic Universe, following 2013’s Man of Steel, Batman v. Superman’s teaser was originally linked in the wee hours of Friday morning. An off-the-screen, cellphone-filmed capture subtitled in Portuguese, the bootlegged trailer gained millions of views well in advance of the official release (originally set for Monday, April 20). As of Friday evening, they’ve given us a proper, HD release, and unfortunately, the outlook is not so great.

www.youtube.com/watch

After watching the bootlegged trailer on Friday morning, my feelings about the film were not so great. Seemingly responding to the criticisms of Man of Steel, Batman v. Superman appears to mix elements of The Dark Knight Returns, pitting a grizzled Batman against Superman. The reasoning? How reckless and destructive Superman was in the Battle of Metropolis.

While a smart way to directly address vocal fans who disliked how Man of Steel handled Superman (and a great way to add Batman, and Lex Luthor to the mythos), I can’t help but feel a crushing level of darkness from this teaser. And I’m not sure that’s the tone you should set for Superman.

The Nolan Batman films did a fantastic job of balancing realistic elements with a dark edge, while delivering exciting superhero adventures. What we see in this teaser feels like the worst lessons were learned from those films.

Not all here is bad, of course. Ben Affleck’s Batman looks great - and I could get into the voice modulation (safe money is that being due to the armored suit). The first indication of Jeremy Irons’ Alfred, via a voice-over sounds good. I’m just not sure I’m all that into Superman as “Alien Jesus", a misunderstood miracle worker.

Let the records show - I was a big fan of Man of Steel - but this brief glimpse of what Batman v. Superman is aiming to be isn’t building me confidence in the DC Cinematic Universe. That said, there’s a long road until March, and as Ant-Man showed us on Monday - a bad teaser can be overcome.

Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice hits theaters on March 25, 2016.

Chewie, We're Home: The New 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Trailer

As promised, Star Wars Celebration has brought us a new trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and well - it’s pretty much perfect.

Cast members new and old, the new faces of evil, the new empire, crashed Star Destroyers, all sorts of amazing sights fill the 2 minute teaser.

www.youtube.com/watch

I am beaming with joy. Star Wars truly IS home.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits on December 18, 2015. The countdown is on now more than ever.

Note: The photo at the top of the post came from the panel earlier today, and features (left to right), Po Damerin (Oscar Isaac, Inside Llewyn Davis), Rey (relative unknown Daisy Ridley) and Finn (John Boyega, Attack The Block). They look as great as the film does.

'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Promo Images Leak

Hours before the opening panel at Star Wars Celebration, where many believe JJ Abrams will share a brand new trailer for the 7th Star Wars film, The Force Awakens (that’ll be streaming here), a number of images of promotional art from the film have leaked across social media.

The fun started with the first official image of the new Stormtroopers, found in the program guide for the convention this weekend.

Then, came the motherload - 5 new images of the villains from the film.

I’ve seen five so far and pulled them together for you in one post.  These look like the types of images that you’d see make up the cheap posters sold at a Walmart or Target, are the basis for t-shirts, or other items like plates and so on.

[gallery ids=“20243,20242,20241,20240,20239”]

Never the less - it’s a clear look at some of the antagonists for the film, which based on rumors are the masked Sith Kylo Ren (he with the unique lightsaber, played by Adam Driver) and a “Chrometrooper”, played by Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth in Game of Thrones).

Undoubtedly, we’ll know more in a few hours. This is all very exciting.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits theaters on December 18, 2015.

'Batman v. Superman' Trailer Event Set For Monday, April 20

Late last night, director Zack Snyder took to the Internet - as he seems to do lately - and made another fan-frothing announcement for Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.

What did he have in-store for us this time? A video announcing that the trailer is coming - this Monday, April 20th.

twitter.com/ZackSnyde…

More than that, however - in a move that somewhat confuses me, they’ll be having free screenings of the trailer at IMAX theaters around the United States on Monday as well.

Yep. Free screenings of a trailer. Which means that video is a teaser of a teaser trailer which you have to go see physically?

Hey - I love movie trailers. I love special events - I’m very excited for the livestream from Star Wars Celebration later today, which is rumored to have the first broadcast of a new trailer from The Force Awakens. I even went to “first screening" events for Avatar and TRON Legacy.

But here’s the big difference in my eyes - the hype versus the delivery. Celebration will bring us “just" a trailer, but we can just watch it from our homes streaming. The Avatar and TRON events featured a look at significant footage from each film, also showcasing specific projection techniques (Avatar’s 3D was a big question at the time, and needed a real world demonstration.)

Shy of WB doing something really cool for fans - like a giveaway or something - what is the benefit of heading to the theater for a 2 minute trailer, which will (if they’re smart) be online right after in HD quality?

Like so many WB / DC decisions, it baffles the mind. Even as they’re making good ones, they find ways to make other decisions that just don’t make sense.

Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice hits theaters on March 25, 2016.

'House of Wolves' DLC Announced for DESTINY

So, yesterday afternoon, Bungie officially announced the latest expansion to their massive multiplayer online shooter Destiny, titled House of Wolves.

Due for a May 19th digital release, the announcement was matched with a really cool new cinematic trailer, seen below.

www.youtube.com/watch

Now, the bummer of this is that it basically marks - I assume - the end of the first Destiny game, as this is the second of two expansion packs offered in the “season pass” sold to gamers.

At this point - how do I feel about Destiny? As the game that sold me a PS4, I’ve had a pretty enjoyable time with it - even though my stats, as a level 25 Hunter, would indicate I’m not the most hardcore of players.

That said, I - and many others - have felt similar frustrations with the game’s somewhat limited story mode leading into one giant grind fest. Yes, this is how most MMOs work, but I suppose I was looking forward to more of a Halo with HUGE online component, less a World of Warcraft with shooter elements.

Destiny has been a very fun game for me, and I’ll be joining the (far more leveled up) hordes on May 19th to play House of Wolves. But I’ll say that I’m even more excited to see how Bungie handles Destiny 2 - and I hope that it has a more significant story mode than Destiny did.

SPOILERS AKIMBO! New 'Terminator Genisys' Trailer Reveals All?

This certainly is a unique promotional tactic.

We’ve been making fun of Terminator Genisys for a good while here at Blast-O-Rama.

With some AWFUL promotional shots hitting the web, and the silly unique spelling of the title, I hadn’t been too onboard with the movie. But then the first trailer hit and honestly? It didn’t look too bad.

Behold today’s new trailer. Or don’t, because I’m pretty sure it SPOILS A GIGANTIC TWIST IN THE MOVIE.

www.youtube.com/watch

Like, I’m amazed this got out. This would be like The Sixth Sense pushing that Bruce Willis was the dead guy, or calling the movie The Crying Game Is When You Find Out That Lady Was Actually Male All Along.

But I’m also left asking one other bit…where the Hell is Matt Smith?

All this said, despite now knowing WAY TOO MUCH, I know me. I, like you, gentle reader…will see Terminator Genisys in theaters on July 1st.

It can’t be as bad as Terminator Salvation. R-right?

Take That Thomas The Tank Engine! New 'Ant-Man' Trailer

Arguably the Marvel Studios movie with the most troubled road to the big screen, Ant-Man sneaks in this Summer as the final Phase 2 movie for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and as a pallet cleanser between the serious 1-2 punch of Avengers: Age of Ultron and the Phase 3 kickoff Captain America: Civil War.

A brand-new trailer has hit the web today for Ant-Man, and honestly - it seems pretty fun. This is a pretty significant step up from my reaction to the first teaser trailer (a decided ‘eh’), and shows that at the end of the day, director Peyton Reed, writer Adam McKay, and co-writer/star Paul Rudd may have found the good stuff even after Edgar Wright departed the film.

www.youtube.com/watch

I have to say, I love how every major “superhero movie beat” the film isn’t afraid to get silly or irreverent. I do wonder, however - is the toy train gag too silly for audiences to want to come in droves?

We’ll find out on July 17th, when Ant-Man hits theaters.

Furious 7 (2015): A Review

I’m not sure when exactly it happened (probably around 2011’s Fast Five, thanks Dwayne), but the Fast & Furious Franchise quickly became a serious guilty pleasure of mine.

Since moving from a street racing-based franchise to an Avengers-esq gathering of franchise heroes with a touch of Ocean’s 11-style high-end heisting, I haven’t been able to escape these films. Fast Five and Fast & Furious 6 mark two of the most insanely enjoyable action movies of the decade so far, so it goes without saying that I - like many others of you - was very much looking forward to Furious 7 for Summer 2014.

Unfortunately, however, life had another plan for us all. With the tragic - and ironic - death of star Paul Walker in a high-speed car crash during a production break, Universal Pictures, and the film’s cast (lead by star and producer Vin Diesel) had to take a long step away from the film, and really decide if they wanted to finish it - and also - if they could finish the film.

Furious 7 finally hit theaters last week, and I’m pleased to say that while the final film doesn’t entirely hit the highs of Fast Five and Fast & Furious 6, the end result is another insane action film, filled with heart as it sends off one of its key players.

Set shortly after Fast & Furious 6 - which in and of itself is sort of followed by Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift, the third film in the franchise - Furious 7 thrusts us into the world of Deckard Shaw (action legend Jason Statham). Shaw is the brother of Owen Shaw - the villain of the last installment - who is out for revenge, aimed directly at Dominic Torretto (Diesel) and his makeshift “family”, the stars of this franchise. He kills off Asian racer Han (as shown in the post-credits scene of Fast & Furious 6), he puts Hobbs (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) in the hospital, and is aiming to take the rest of the crew out.

This of course worries Dom, as he is obsessed with two things: cars, and the protection of his “family”, which has become a bit more official with his sister Mia’s (Jordana Brewster) involvement with ex-cop Brian O’Connor (Paul Walker). The two even have a child now, which means that Brian can’t quite get called into as many insane adventures anymore. Add that Dom’s love interest Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) is still dealing with the amnesia she had when she came back from the dead - yes, that’s a thing - and Dom’s got a lot on his plate this installment.

This plot - somewhat straight forward, pitting Dom vs. Shaw in a battle to protect everything he knows and loves - is further complicated with three additions: (1) a shadowy government organization lead by “Mr. Nobody” (Kurt Russell), who wishes to have Dom help them find (2) a hacker named Ramsey (Game of Thrones' Nathalie Emmanuel), who is being held captive by (3) a terrorist group lead by Mose Jakande (Djimon Hounsou), who wishes to have control of an observation software called the “God’s Eye”, which allows the user to monitor every and all camera, cellphone communication and satelite to track anyone in the world. They tie this together as Mr. Nobody offering Dom the chance to easily find Shaw in return for completing the rescue mission, but as you can see - it’s three additional plot points that muddy a pretty straightforward story.

Perhaps this is due to the off screen tragedy - with the movie only half complete at the time of Walker’s passing, director James Wan (Insidious), Vin Diesel and writer Chris Morgan worked hard to pull the movie back together and deliver something that both came together and and served as a farewell to Walker’s character.

For the most part - they succeeded.

The action remains intense and insane, featuring the same eye-popping stunts and mind-bending physics fans have come to expect in the franchise. Since the shift of the franchise after Fast Five, Furious 7 again delivers an Avengers-esq gathering of leads who do the impossible. The action peaks somewhat early with a jaw dropping smash-and-grab sequence where the team aims to rescue Ramsey, which involves a mountain side race, mounted turrets, a giant armored bus, and (of course) a group of cars being dropped from an airplane. Wan, who is new to the franchise, shows himself an adept director of action, shooting very unique hand-to-hand combat with dizzying camera work, but has the steady hand to allow the vehicular action to breathe, letting fans take in how crazy the creators of this franchise are to do what they do with (mostly) real cars completing the stunts.

I could mention a few flaws of the film, namely that with Han and Giselle gone (and Hobbs sidelined), the cast doesn’t feel as “fun”, and how new additions Tony Jaa and Rhonda Rousey basically just serve the film to star in some visceral fight sequences (which in Rousey’s case, may be best - she’s an incredible fighter, but not so great at the line reads…still love you, girl!). But the fact is, in the face of incredible adversity, Wan, Diesel and the entire Furious family pulled this film together. Sometimes it definitely feels held together by gum, spit and hope, but it remains another immensely enjoyable installment in arguably one of the finest franchises going today.

Besides, Furious 7 deserves all of your money for finally proving one thing: Iggy Azalea causes PTSD.

Furious 7 is in theaters now.

TOM CRUISE HANGING ON A PLANE: 'Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation' Trailer

Believe it or not folks, we’re now at our fifth Mission: Impossible movie, but considering - much like Fast and Furious - the franchise really only got started “late”, with the JJ Abrams directed M:I 3, this is technically the third part of the Bad Robot trilogy - Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation.

www.youtube.com/watch

Placing the IMF (the returning Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg, plus new female spy Rebecca Ferguson) against an “Anti-IMF” called the Syndicate, it looks like another world spanning action romp filled with insane stunts.

While I think Christopher McQuarrie is a step down from Abrams and Brad Bird as a director, this looks like an absolute blast - and clearly Paramount agrees, moving it up from it’s original Christmas release date (and away from Star Wars) to a late July bow.

Besides, this movie has a FLUTE GUN. Flute gun!

Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation hits theaters on July 31, 2015 and tickets are already on sale!

First 'Pixels' Trailer Looks Like An Insane Fever Dream

www.youtube.com/watch

There aren’t many words for this.

Someone went “Hmm, Adam Sandler, Kevin James, that little dude from Game of Thrones, and the guy from Frozen fight 1980’s video game characters? HAVE $200 MILLION DOLLARS!*”

I…yeah. The CG looks incredibly well done, and with Chris Columbus (Home Alone) in the directors chair, you have to believe that the movie will be - at worst - competent, but…I think I need to lay down.

Pixels hits theaters on July 24, 2015.

New 'SPECTRE' Teaser Poster Is Turtleneck-tastic!

Yesterday, the official James Bond Twitter unveiled the teaser poster for SPECTRE, the 24th 007 film, due this November in theaters.

twitter.com/007/statu…

Showcasing a stark image of Daniel Craig as Bond, what really has everyone talking is his swanky turtleneck.

So the question is…

You make the call. In the meantime, here is a gallery of a few alternate versions of the poster.

[gallery columns=“2” ids=“20191,20194,20193,20192”]

SPECTRE arrives in the US on November 6, 2015.

Icons, Refreshed: DC Reboots Its Heroes Again (with New Costumes!)

Way, way back in the year of our lord 2011, DC Comics attempted to jumpstart their slowing comic business by relaunching their entire universe, in an event called The New 52.

While DC’s never strayed away from rebooting their universe in the past (see every single crossover with Crisis in the title, or the 90’s classic Zero Hour), this was certainly the most dramatic, tossing out pretty much all of the existing continuity and picking and choosing the pieces they liked the most to move forward. It was jarring for readers both old and new, but it certainly grabbed headlines. Heck, I tried to review every one of them.

That said, here we are, almost four years later, and not much has changed for DC Comics. Clearly - they feel the need to do something about that.

Even with a major Geoff Johns/Jim Lee pairing on Justice League, the needle didn’t move very much for the #2 publisher of comics. There were solid runs on stalwart titles (Geoff Johns’ run on Superman, Grant Morrison’s Action Comics, the stupendous run of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo on Batman), unique books that no one read but should’ve (Jeff Lemire’s Animal Man), and - as one would expect out of fifty-two new comics published every month, a lot of filler. Many books that targeted the same old DC Comics reader, just with a new splash of Jim Lee designed paint and a #1 on the cover.

That said, over the last year, two books in particular started to move the needle, both from the Batman franchise. The incredible Batgirl reboot, a more modern-day take on the popular heroine, combining whip-smart writing from Cameron Stewart and Brenden Fletcher with brilliant art (and a brilliant, realistic redesign) from Babs Tarr, and the Harry Potter-esq Gotham Academy, written by Brenden Fletcher and Becky Cloonan, with gorgeous art from Karl Kerschl.

What makes those books great? They dare to be bold. They take risks. Even with the heights of some of the aforementioned comics in the New 52 (the Zero Year storyline in Batman is an AMAZING retelling of Batman’s early years), they never strove to be as unique as Batgirl and Gotham Academy have been - and the fandom for each title has grown.

So, what has DC decided to do? Start again. But in a…possibly good way?

This June, DC Comics will be relaunching their comic line. For the month of April and May, a company wide crossover, titled launch an entire line of DC Comics films (a’la Marvel Studios). When they get back to normal in June, it’s a brand new day.

What’s really exciting, however, is that THIS time, DC seems to be paying attention. What’s working will stay. What isn’t is going away. And they’re looking to cultivate unique voices and develop comics in the “Batgirl style", such as a new Prez comic with a funky robot lead and a Black Canary series (featuring art from Hawkeye artist Annie Wu) placing the classic hero as a leader of a rock band, among others.

It’s a really bold move - and one I applaud. However, it may not all be roses.

Why? Because - apparently - it’s time to redesign everyone again. Many iconic DC characters will once again get a new coat of paint.

As opposed to Jim Lee re-designing everyone (NOW WITH MORE ARMOR LINES!), we definitely look to be in quite a re-imagination for some iconic heroes, and they ain’t all as good as Batgirl.

First up is Batman. Showcased earlier this week by Comic Book Resources, this new look for the Dark Knight debuts in June’s Batman #41 from Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo. And apparently he’s gone CRAZY with the armor.

Look, I’m not entirely pleased with this idea visually - he looks like Chappie for goodness sake - but with a track record of making good on interesting ideas for almost four years now, I’m going to give Snyder and Capullo the benefit of the doubt here. I just hope there’s a good explanation for Batman having a gun.

Verdict: Too early to say.

Nerdist got to premiere the new look for Superman today, premiering in Action Comics #41, and I’m not entirely feeling it. Yes, the New 52 armor was kind of egregious, but this may be too simplistic for Superman. It’s got elements of Connor Kent as Superboy, The New 52 look from Action Comics - but in a cool touch, a very 1940’s-esq Superman shield.

Verdict: Makes for easier cosplay, but just doesn’t feel “Super".

Oof. Where do I begin here? Premiering in Wonder Woman #41, we have this…armor.

I realize, we probably want Wonder Woman to have a less revealing, more female-empowering costume for this age. But did you really have to let David Finch crap this out and call it good? I almost feel bad for Hitfix for getting this as their exclusive.

ESPECIALLY when you have a superior look for Wonder Woman in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, or you could just re-use the absolutely stellar armored look designed by Cliff Chang. Instead, you have this look that would’ve been bad in the 1990’s.

I suppose it could always be worse.

Verdict: Wonder Woman deserves far, far better.

Topless Robot also got to premiere some new costumes thanks to some exclusive cover reveals today, but these are a bit more minor. Green Arrow gets some sweet swooshy pants starting in June’s issue #41, and The Flash gets a new look that seems to be a sweet spot between his New 52 look and what we see on the CW TV series.

Verdict: Breaks even.

I know, this turned into superhero fashion police, but lets be honest…in comics, you’re far more likely to judge the book by its cover(s).

That said, I actually believe in DC Comics here. I want to believe they’re learning the right things from the success of Batgirl and Gotham Academy, heck even from what Marvel’s Marvel NOW has done - give us solid books that move our favorite characters forward that look as good as they read, and we’ll gladly come back every month.

Please, DC. Make me want to come back every month.

RUMOR: Yes, Virginia - There Will Be A 'Tron 3'

Believe it or not, franchises can continue on despite disappointing results.

While I’d be the first to admit that Tron Legacy had more looks than brains, I did enjoy it when it hit theaters back in 2010. I’m not sure the rest of the world felt the same, however, with a 51% Rotten Tomatoes rating, and “just" a $400 Million box office - which while sounding impressive, is versus a nearly $200 mil budget, making it a not-so-huge success.

Never the less, Disney apparently believes in the series enough to give it a third try, as word on a third films production came today from VanCityBuzz, a local to Vancouver blog.

According to the blog - who, as far as I could tell, would have no reason to make this up - production begins on October 5th for what they dubbed Tron 3, with Garrett Hedlund appearing once more as your stoic hero, and director Joseph Kosinski behind the lens.

One certainly hopes an adept screenwriter is involved in the film as well - as both Tron Legacy and Oblivion have unfortunately proven - Kosinski can deliver incredible visuals, but without a script, his movies feel adrift. At the very least, I hope for more Olivia Wilde as Quorra - the best part of Legacy on many, many levels.

More on Tron 3 as we have it.

The Second 'Inside Out' Trailer Finally Delivers On Its Promise

It took a few trailers to do it, but with the official release of the latest trailer for Disney/Pixar’s Inside Out, it’s looking like the computer generated animation studio made like Stella, and got their groove back.

www.youtube.com/watch

Premiered earlier today online, this latest trailer gives a bit more of the scale and scope for the film. Not just quite Herman’s Head turned into an animated family film, Inside Out seems to also take the Monsters Inc. approach - but to our dreams, imagination, and emotion.

Nice to see Amy Poehler continue her run of absolutely joy-filled characters here, literally playing Joy.

(Also, broccoli on pizza isn’t too bad at all.)

Inside Out hits theaters on June 19, 2015.

New 'Daredevil' Trailer Showcases Marvel's Darkest Project Yet

Netflix has released a brand new trailer for their next big TV series - Marvel’s Daredevil.

Set to be the first of five Marvel Comics-based series for the streaming Internet service, this trailer focuses on the villainous Kingpin, portrayed here by Vincent D’Onofrio (Law & Order: Criminal Intent). That said, we do get a longer look at Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock - including some brief legal action, and of course, the copious amounts of violence that give the series a TV-MA rating.

www.youtube.com/watch

While this is definitely the darkest project to come from Marvel Studios so far (clearly mixing and matching parts of Frank Miller and Brian Michael Bendis’ runs of the comic), the trailer shows promise, indicating that Daredevil may be more of a House of Cards for the network, as opposed to say, a Hemlock Grove. Personally, I can’t wait for the Iron Fist series, so this is just a lot of foreplay for me.

Daredevil Season One premieres on Netflix at 12:01AM Pacific, on April 10, 2015.

DWAYNE VS. THE EARTHQUAKE: New 'San Andreas' Trailer

You know what the Summer 2015 Schedule needs? A solid, unpretentious disaster movie.

That’s what San Andreas looks to be, and with Dwayne Johnson starring, alongside a cast of great actors (Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario, Paul Giamatti), this looks like it could be a fun matinee worth checking out. Here’s the new trailer released this morning.

www.youtube.com/watch

This isn’t going to be an award winner, it’s not going to be the best thing you see all Summer, but lately, I’ve been craving a Twister/Day After Tomorrow style romp with lots of crazy CGI and a charismatic lead.

San Andreas could be that movie. I hope.

San Andreas hits theaters May 29, 2015.

The 'Ghostbusters' Universe May Not Be As Bad As We Thought

Yesterday afternoon, Deadline.com broke news that promptly made the Internet roll its eyes. But some details that arrived later made it sound not quite so bad.

Mike Fleming Jr. over at Deadline announced Sony Pictures new development company called Ghost Corps. The purpose of Ghost Corps? Spearheaded by Ivan Reitman and Dan Akroyd, Ghost Corps will be bringing us a full Ghostbusters cinematic universe. Starting with the “Female Ghostbusters” starring Kristen Wiig, followed by a Channing Tatum starring, Russo Brothers (Captain America: The Winter Soldier) directed second film.

Not a huge shock, given the Marvel-fication of franchise filmmaking these days (EVERYTHING’S GOTTA BE A UNIVERSE! EVERYTHING!), but with certain quotes, everything sounded…well, awful. From the way the article is written, the second film in the series - a “male-centric” version of Ghostbusters, following the female fronted Paul Feig film, made the movie sound like they were kowtowing to the fedora set who complained on Twitter.  Plus, when you use words like “branded entertainment”, it really makes one wonder if quality is the goal above filmmaking.

That said, Devin Faraci at Badass Digest did his due diligence, looking further into the story, and the actual goals sound…far less bad?

From his report, the second film in the series isn’t so much male-centric, as it is intending to star Channing Tatum and real life friend Chris Pratt as the leads. The other leads could be female as well. Additionally, Ghostbusters is more a catch-all for fun, supernatural comedy-action films.  With awesome leads in the front, awesome directors behind the camera, and less shady goals in mind - I can be far more interested.

Not surprisingly, this is then supposed to lead into a third film where the Wiig and Tatum camps team up, and then funnel into an eventual fourth film, which would be a prequel - but would not - yes, not - relate to the original 1984 Ghostbusters or its characters.

Look - I’m still not the happiest camper about this “Universe”. I still believe it may be too much spinning out of too little. But if this means I get a fun Kristen Wiig comedy AND a Channing Tatum/Chris Pratt buddy action movie out of this? Might be worth it after all. Stay tuned.

Second 'Tomorrowland' Trailer Gives Us A Vision of a Lost Future

In my eyes, our greatest hope for a truly wonderful, original film this Summer is Tomorrowland.

Yes, while it’s technically based on a Disney theme park attraction, it’s infusing a story and history to the attraction that never existed - sure to make it stand our among the sequels and remakes across the June-August time frame.

Even with me greatly anticipating some of those movies (Avengers, Mad Max, etc.), Tomorrowland has me excited specifically for everything that I don’t know about it. The first teaser trailer was about as perfect as teaser trailers can be, and this new trailer - just released yesterday by Disney - shows just a bit more to delight, but still is clearly keeping the movie’s secrets held tight..

www.youtube.com/watch

I admit, I’m a softy for a “retro-futuristic” world, and I’ve been in George Clooney’s pocket since Ocean’s 11, but I think this movie is going to surprise us all this Summer.

I’ve seen critics and friends alike online question the movie, feeling like these teasers still haven’t shown them something big - but I almost wonder if that’s the point? These teasers remind me of those for movies like E.T. or Jurassic Park. Just enough to sell me the ticket and get me in the door.

With Brad Bird behind the camera, I know that the final film is sure to delight me. I guess I just worry how many of us will make the jump into the theater.

Tomorrowland releases on May 22, 2015.

New 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' Trailer Assembles & Stuns

Held hostage by a Twitter hashtag, the new trailer for Avengers: Age of Ultron hit the web today thanks to Marvel Studios, in advance of it’s television premiere tomorrow during American Crime on ABC here in the US.

Full of pathos and destruction, it’s clear that the stakes are higher than in the original Avengers, and there are tons of little moments that are sure to make fans delight (myself included). Whether it’s a world weary Ultron in a throne, or a number of team assembling images, or Thor definitely asking if “that’s all you’ve got?!” there’s a lot to be excited about here.

www.youtube.com/watch

Avengers: Age of Ultron hits theaters on May 1st, 2015, with early screenings on Thursday, April 30th.

Neill Blomkamp Signed for New 'Aliens' Film

I’m pretty sure this is an example of the ideas pushed in The Secret coming true.

Right around last Christmas, District 9 and Elysium director Neill Blomkamp posted some super interesting concept art onto his Instagram feed.

Prefaced with an image of an Alien Queen - like from Aliens - Blomkamp immediately excited and let down sci-fi fans.

instagram.com/p/xVUvaEK…

Now, it seems the tide has turned.

Possibly due to the amazing amount of fan response to the incredible concept art, which included a look at an Older Ripley, a Scarred Hicks, and I think the dudes from Prometheus, Variety reports - and Blomkamp confirms - that he will be working on a new Aliens film.

With no release date currently set, Ridley Scott is working with Blomkamp as producer on the movie. Blomkamp, whose next film is Chappie, due out in March, clearly has a unique feel to his films, and may be the shot in the arm that the series needs. At the least, I expect a Superman Returns-esq retcon of a number of sequels.  The movie is set after Prometheus 2, which is still in production.

If you take anything away from this gang, it should be this - put your awesome out into the world. You never know what may happen.

'Batman v Superman' Aquaman REVEALED!

It seems that if you’re a superhero movie fan these days, it pays to be a night owl. On the East Coast, at least.

Late last night (1am Eastern, 10pm Pacific), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice director Zack Snyder took to Twitter.

Echoing the reveals of the Batmobile, Ben Affleck’s Batman and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Snyder decided to use the social network to reveal his version of another DC icon - Aquaman.

twitter.com/ZackSnyde…

Portrayed by Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones), this first look at the new Aquaman is pretty much exactly as you’d expect. It’s Khal Drogo as Aquaman through a Zack Snyder filter. Honestly, it kinda reminds me of the 1990’s look, albeit with both hands present. That said, I’m not sure if I’m going to take this version of the character saying “I AM AQUAMAN" like a bad ass seriously. Just an odd name for a hero, especially juxtaposed with that look.

The question for me - however - is this: “Unite the Seven.“? It’s written The Social Network style across the image, and used as the hashtag in the tweet.

Is that a call out instead to the Justice League? We’ve got Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and Aquaman - with The Flash, Green Lantern and Cyborg on the way. That’s seven. Could Snyder have more reveals coming down the pike?

It’s a Marvel phrase - but stay tuned, true believers!

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is set for a March 25, 2016 release, with Jason Momoa starring in a solo Aquaman film on July 27, 2018.

CONTEST: Win A Copy of 'LEGO Justice League vs. Bizarro League' on Blu-Ray!

Our pals at Warner Bros have hooked us up again with some sweet sweet swag - want a copy of LEGO Justice League vs. Bizarro League on Blu-Ray? We’ve got one to give away! Read on!

Use the awesome Bizarro name generator in the app above, and reply to this post with your Bizarro name. Make sure you include your real email address in the comment, as we’ll randomly select one commenter to win the flick on Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack!

Hurry up - we close comments on Thursday, February 26th! Good luck!

EDIT: Congrats to our winner - Rob Simmons!

Our First Look At 'SPECTRE', The Next James Bond Movie

It’s really very little to go off off, but the official James Bond Twitter account - @007 - just revealed the first official still of the fourth Daniel Craig James Bond, the twenty-fourth overall - SPECTRE.

We’ve got snow, a jumpsuit, cool glasses. And that’s all I got. If it’s your jam, they also released a new Behind the Scenes video.

www.youtube.com/watch

Still hopin' it’s as good as Skyfall.

SPECTRE hits theaters on November 6, 2015.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Trailer: WOW THIS LOOKS COOL

Who the hell knew that Henry Cavill was so damn likeable?

Sure, I really like him as Superman, but if this first trailer for The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is any indication, Cavill has a load of charisma that we’ve yet to be able to take in as movie going audiences.

www.youtube.com/watch

Directed by Guy Richie (Sherlock Holmes), The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is based on the classic 1960’s TV show, and looks to rejuvenate the brand in a similar way to how Richie did with the Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock Holmes films. Starring Cavill as the lead CIA operative, Napoleon Solo alongside The Social Network‘s Armie Hammer as Illya Kuryakin, a Russian spy, the movie looks light, fun and super stylish.

Basically, it’s going to be the perfect movie after a whiz-bang Summer of movies including Avengers, Mad Max, and countless others.  This will be the perfect after dinner mint movie.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. hits theaters on August 14, 2015.

'Aloha' Trailer: The Most Cameron Crowe Movie Ever

I really don’t like being super negative, but the trailer for the new Cameron Crowe movie, Aloha, has hit and…I’m not sure if I’m just watching it the wrong way, or if it’s really not good.

I really enjoy Cameron Crowe’s movies - Say Anything, Almost Famous - but so far, Aloha seems almost like the world’s most subtle Cameron Crowe parody.

www.youtube.com/watch

Perhaps it’s a really poor trailer, but with an amazing cast, including Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, Bill Murray, Rachel McAdams, and Alec Baldwin, the way it’s cut and structured couldn’t feel more cookie cutter. The only way it could be worse is if characters were literally explaining their roles. “I’m the hard luck smart ass trying to get his life straight.” “I’m the young ingenue who teaches you to love again!” “I’m the old guy who inspires you to greatness!” “I’m the one who got away!”

Perhaps I’m being too cynical. We’ll find out when Aloha hits theaters on May 29, 2015.

Amy Schumer Turns the Judd Apatow Formula On It's Head with 'Trainwreck'

A dark-horse candidate for one of my most anticipated movies of the summer, the first trailer for the Amy Schumer written and starring/Judd Apatow directed Trainwreck has hit the web in both general audiences and red-band forms.

www.youtube.com/watch

In Trainwreck, Schumer stars as the lead, a role that seems to turn the standard Judd Apatow tropes on their head - this time, it’s a restless woman who can’t commit and has a stable man (Bill Hader) come in and change her life. That’s intensely simplifying the plot portrayed, but it’s refreshing to see a director like Apatow become self-aware and work on a project that is the opposite of his norm.

The trailers look hilarious, with the witty yet raunchy writing Schumer has become known for with her stand up and Inside Amy Schumer, and holy crap, what casts - Vanessa Bayer getting a chance to step out of the SNL spotlight, Brie Lawson getting a nice supporting role, and of all people - Lebron James and John Cena looking hilarious?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_yfdk_jSN8

I feel like Bridesmaids comparisons will come out regularly for this movie, but honestly, it just looks like a great, solid comedy. And while I’m one of the few who loved both Funny People and This Is 40, it makes me very happy to see Judd Apatow shaking things up.

Trainwreck hits theaters on July 17, 2015.

Sony/Marvel Reach Deal: Spider-Man Joins The Marvel Movie Universe

The impossible is now possible.

Overnight, while many fans slept (including myself), Marvel Studios announced something many fans and industry pundits alike thought would never happen - the Spider-Man franchise is returning home.

Yes, that’s right - per the press release at Marvel.com - Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios have reached a deal to continue the Spider-Man movie franchise under the creative view of Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, starting with a brand-new Spider-Man movie on July 28, 2017.

We’ll see the new Spider-Man in action before then, however, as the press release also indicates that he will appear first in a new Marvel film within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Some quick back of the napkin math tells me that the movie will most likely be Captain America: Civil War - since it definitely wouldn’t be Doctor Strange or Guardians of the Galaxy 2 - making Civil War an absolutely HUGE film, featuring Captain America, Iron Man, and the respective debuts of the new Spider-Man and Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther.

Really, my only complaint about the situation so far? The awkward way the press release describes the transition: “Sony is bringing Marvel into the amazing world of Spider-Man.“ You just know that there had to be some severe back and forth about how to phrase the transition, but we all know, it’s an addition of Spidey to the MCU, not MCU to Spidey. But I digress…

The Wall Street Journal goes a bit more in-depth on the announcement - understandably, as they were the first to share the prior discussions between Sony and Marvel, which leaked during the Sony hack. Among the details discussed by the WSJ, this new Spider-Man will indeed appear in Captain America: Civil War, and it will be a fresh start for the character, as Amazing Spider-Man franchise lead Andrew Garfield will be recast.

Personally, I think that’s a shame, as Garfield has done incredible work from both sides of the character, but has been let down by the disappointing scripts for both Amazing films. That said, Andrew Garfield is an incredible actor as shown via his turns in The Social Network and the Red Riding Trilogy, so I think we’ll continue to see great work from him.

Some fans have wondered if this will be a relaunch staring Miles Morales, the new Spider-Man of Marvel Comics’ Ultimate Universe. While I can certainly understand the excitement - I believe when you buy out McDonalds, you focus on the Big Mac, not the McNuggets. You go with what brought you to the dance. Marvel Studios gets to redefine the classic Peter Parker character for a new generation while gaining access to the most successful superhero franchise ever.  That said, I could absolutely see Miles eventually hitting the big screen, or even new things such as the newly popular “Spider-Gwen”.

How should Marvel approach this new Spider-Man? If there’s any justice in this world, IN MEDIA RES. While the response to the film was mixed (I liked it!), 2008’s The Incredible Hulk showed us that you can do a fun and proper superhero movie without focusing on retelling the origin. Do it over the opening credits if you must, but how cool would it be if the movie started - very simply - “You know who I am. I’m your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man!”

Obviously, this has shaken up Marvel Studios plans for Phase 3 quite a bit.  I’m sure fans will be just fine with the shift, but a number of previously announced Marvel films now have new release dates. Thor: Ragnarok, originally set for a July 28, 2017 release, has been moved to November 3, 2017. Black Panther has been moved from November 3, 2017 to July 6, 2018. Captain Marvel has moved from July 6, 2018 to November 2, 2018. Finally, The Inhumans has moved from November 2, 2018 to July 12, 2019.  The Phase 3 slate continues to be a gutsy mix of sequels and new films for lesser-known properties, but with Spider-Man in the mix, it looks stronger than ever.

Back in 2008, Marvel Studios proposed the impossible - a series of superhero films culminating in The Avengers. We said they were crazy then, and they proved us wrong. We thought that we’d never see Spider-Man mix it up with the MCU. We were wrong. I can’t wait to see what we’re wrong about next.

Will Chris Pratt Go From Guardian to Raider (of the Lost Ark)?

Hey, Chris Pratt!

You’re already married to a movie star (Anna Faris), you’re on one of the best comedies on television (Parks & Recreation), and you were the lead in two of the best movies of 2014 (The LEGO Movie and Guardians of the Galaxy) - so how are you going to follow that up?

If Disney has their way? By making you Indiana Jones.

Yep, that’s the rumor from Deadline.com today, saying that Disney is working hard to relaunch the Indiana Jones franchise much how they have Star Wars, and the person they’re considering to take over the fedora and whip is none other than Pratt himself.

I know that previously, Bradley Cooper was rumored to be the next to follow in Harrison Ford’s footsteps, but considering Pratt’s Star-Lord seemed to be the venn-diagram of Han Solo and Indiana Jones (with a touch of excited fanboy), I don’t think he’s a bad choice by any means.

I do wonder, however, with Jurassic World coming - which could lead to sequels - another Guardians of the Galaxy due soon, and rumors that the Guardians could be a part of the future Avengers sequels, can Pratt sign on? Considering Disney owns Marvel AND Lucasfilm, I’m sure they can move anything around the way they want…but he is just one man, and I don’t think we want to see Chris Pratt get played out.

Color me optimistic but cautious on this news.

Paul Feig Finds His Female 'Ghostbusters'

Literally decades of rumor and scuttlebutt came to an end today, as we officially have a new, third Ghostbusters film.

No, it’s not Ghostbusters 3, as Dan Aykroyd has sworn for years would be coming (the idea of which, thankfully, seemed to pass along with Harold Ramis last year) - it’s the all-female Ghostbusters reboot, as helmed by director Paul Feig (Bridesmaids).

Many had wondered if Feig’s interpretation - featuring a new generation of paranormal investigators - would end up stuck in the same development hell as Aykroyd’s many ideas, but with a well-timed tweet, Feig has confirmed his cast, and now, a few hours later, we have the official release date as well.

twitter.com/paulfeig/…

For those not familiar with the actresses pictured, this seems to confirm reports that the new foursome battling the spirits of the undead are Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids), Melissa McCarthy (The Heat) and current Saturday Night Live cast members Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones.

This marks the first time Feig and Wiig have worked together since the career-making Bridesmaids, and a huge moment for the careers of McKinnon and Jones, who have been making names for themselves in Studio 8H the past few years. I’m particularly excited to see McCarthy working with Feig again, as she seems a bit lost on film without him, resulting in the subpar comedies Tammy and The Identity Thief.

That said, if the rumored script details posted earlier today at HitFix are true, the movie has a long way to go, in my eyes. The flick sounds a bit too tied to the past - and it could hurt this new Ghostbusters if it’s dripping with nostalgia. I especially question the choice of hopeful casting for the villain.

Never the less, the movie is on the right foot with the perfect mix of comedic actresses - two names, two on the verge. Lets just hope the final flick sticks the landing. They’ve got two and a half years to do it.

Ghostbusters hits theaters on July 22, 2016.

A Fantastic First-Look: 'Fantastic Four' Teaser Trailer Hits The Web

After an unusually high amount of smoke and mirrors, 20th Century Fox has decided to drop the curtain of mystery surrounding their reboot of the classic Marvel Comics series, Fantastic Four.

Directed by Josh Trank - who last gave us the incredible first-person superhero tragedy Chronicle - this is clearly a very different version of Marvel’s First Family. The first teaser hit the Internet earlier today, and while it doesn’t give us much (as a proper teaser trailer should), what’s there is incredibly intriguing.

www.youtube.com/watch

The teaser strikes a stark tone, in line with the movie’s rumored “body horror” approach towards Reed, Sue, Johnny and Ben’s journey into mystery. I mean, when it comes down to it, their powers are the result of chemical mutations of their bodies - so the ability to take a dark angle is pretty clear. You can also see shades of the Ultimate Fantastic Four run from the early 2000’s. You might also recognize the score from the BBC series Broadchurch.

Fans have been waiting for something substantial to come from the Fantastic Four camp since the movie finished filming last Summer. Rumors have flown about the film, including many pointing toward the movie being a troubled production, and Fox even wanting to replace Trank.

That said, what we have in this first teaser trailer has raised my intrigue and interest - even if I really cannot say for sure if I feel the movie will be good or not.

Josh Trank and writer Simon Kinberg also spoke recently with Collider, taking on much of the rumors and fan fears - and between his statements in the interview, the buzzworthy cast (including Whiplash’s Miles Teller, House of Cards' Kate Mara, and The Wire’s Michael B. Jordan), and the strong tone of this teaser - Fox’s Fantastic Four reboot may be one of the movies to watch for the Summer.

Fantastic Four hits theaters on August 7, 2015.

Lucy (2014): A Review

You ever find yourself wondering what would happen if a group of high philosophy majors decided to write an action film?

Congratulations - your nightmarish movie is now a jarring reality thanks to Luc Besson, and it’s called Lucy.

Lucy is the latest sci-fi action film from the mind of Besson, who gave us some all-time greats with The Professional and The Fifth Element. Sadly, Lucy is not one of those movies.

Lucy stars Scarlett Johansson (Lost In Translation) in the titular role, an American party girl in Taiwan, who due to the actions of her sleazy boyfriend, becomes an on-the-spot drug mule, for a group of local gangsters. The drug? An extremely powerful synthetic called “CPH4". This drug - explained to us by overwrought voiceovers from Morgan Freeman - allows one to gain control beyond the average 10% of one’s brain. Nevermind the fact that this theory of only having 10% control of our brain is hooey - it’s time to make ScarJo a superhero and beat up a bunch of Asian baddies with her mind powers!

The film that follows is one of the most hamfisted action flicks I’ve ever seen. While there are some admirably solid action sequences, the movie strives for an incredible sense of awe and importance which is never earned. It shows you recurring sequences of sped-up stock footage to underline already-obvious imagery, and stark check-ins of how much brain power Lucy has gained (40%, 50% and so on), so that even the most dim of audience members can go “oh, cool - I understand what you’re saying, Mr. Filmmaker!“.

It’s a shame to see Johansson wasted here, same with Freeman. Both seem to be brought in on their prestige alone - Johansson for being the current hot lady bad-ass in demand (showing Besson’s long-running taste for strong female heroines, established with La Femme Nikita), and Freeman for…I dunno, sounding really good in voice over. Johansson’s basically reduced to a body and a lifeless voice, running off countless instances of rambling, important dialogue. The only actor who seems to get a fair shake from the film is Choi Min-Sik’s Mr. Jang, who does an admirable job of channelling Gary Oldman’s Norman Stansfield from The Professional.

I think my issue with Lucy boils down to this - the movie tries to be smarter than it is, and never truly jumps into the realm of the campy action romp it could be. Clearly there’s an audience for a strong female action movie - the history of the Hunger Games franchise shows it, as does Lucy’s fantastic box office - but I just wish that Lucy were the film that its pedigree lead me to believe it could be.

As it stands - it’s in the pile of self-important sci-fi super powered actioners, more in the vein of forgetful flicks like Push than a true franchise starter. A secondary rental at best, I don’t recommend Lucy unless you’ve blown through your other choices, or are an easily-wowed teen.

Lucy hits DVD and Blu-Ray on January 20th, 2015. It’s currently available on VOD (Amazon, iTunes).

Boyhood (2014): A Review

After glowing reviews upon its initial release, a series of Golden Globe nominations (and wins), and a slue of Oscar nominations, what I’m about to say is probably overdone and trite but never-the-less true.

Boyhood is an absolutely wonderful piece of filmmaking, and possibly one of the best movies I’ve ever seen.

Much has been written of this unique project, spearheaded by writer/director Richard Linklater (Dazed & Confused). Originally starting filming in 2002, Linklater and his crew, including actors Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette, chronicled the fictional coming-of-age story of Mason Evans, Jr., from ages 6 to 18. Of course, what makes the film stand out is how this was accomplished - by filming new segments every year, between 2002 and 2013.

It’s hard to write about Boyhood without addressing its unique production process, but in that same regard, it’s the unique style of production that gives the film its weight and its heart. We see Mason Evans Jr. grow from a small boy to a young man, and experience - just through small moments that lead to a greater whole - his successes and adversity in life. This is framed by moments of interaction with his divorced parents - the aforementioned Arquette and Hawke - which guide his life and the man we see him become.

At no point, however, does the film become gimmicky. The passage of time in the hands of a lesser director would be indicated by overt title screens - a “one year later" or “2004" graphic - but instead, we’re left to use context clues from the films soundtrack, imagery, costuming and haircuts to determine the length of time between segments and scenes.

Running a hefty 2 hours and 46 minutes, Boyhood somehow never feels long. You feel like you live these moments through Mason’s eyes, and go on the roller coaster of his life alongside him. You cheer for the good times, you get sad at the tough times, and you feel the same beaming pride of Hawke and Arquette as their son goes from Young Boy to Young Man.

As the product of a divorced home myself, perhaps there are elements of Boyhood that ring truer and deeper than they would for others - but I can safely say that I’ve never felt more in-tune with a film than I have this. I’ve lived that life, I’ve seen those moments, I’ve felt those feelings, and the birds eye view is enthralling and captivating.

Acting in the film is wonderful, with Ethan Hawke as the trying-his-best screw up absentee father Mason Sr., and Patricia Arquette doing incredible work as Mason’s mother, Olivia. Every award she’s been nominated for has been well deserved - you feel Olivia’s strength and growth through the film, ending up with one of the strongest female roles I’ve seen on film in some time. The true revelations, however, are Ellar Coltrane and Lorelei Linkletter (Richard’s daughter) as Mason Jr. and his sister Samantha, respectively. I cannot imagine the difficultly of casting someone of single digit age through to adulthood, but in each, they grow into confident actors. Either could be actors to watch for years to come.

Boyhood is a movie whose production story may be greater than the simple one it presents on film, but the 12 year risk paid off. Highest possible recommendation.

Boyhood is currently available on Blu-Ray, DVD, and VOD (Amazon, iTunes).

The Films of 2015: A Look Ahead

For fans of movies, 2014 was an amazing year.

While there were some high profile issues (The Interview), movies that didn’t live up to their billing (The Amazing Spider-Man 3), or movies that were just plain bad (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) - we were amazed by films that either had a tremendous backstory (Boyhood), movies that shouldn’t have been as great as they were (The LEGO Movie), or movies that even the most devout fans doubted (Guardians of the Galaxy).

In short, it was a great time to enjoy film.

2015 looks to be just as amazing, and to give us a taste of the flicks we’ll be flocking to, I wanted to do this breakdown of the movies I believe will be worth seeing next year. I’ll link trailers where applicable.

All dates are from the Wikipedia “2015 In Film" Page and are subject to change

January 2015

January 9th: Taken 3 C’mon - there’s no chance this movie will be the traditional meaning of “good", but if you don’t want to start your 2015 by watching Liam Neeson kick peoples asses, I don’t know that we can be friends.

February 2015

February 6th: Jupiter Ascending Originally set for a Summer 2014 bow, this film from the Wachowski Brothers (The Matrix, Cloud Atlas) is sort of a sci-fi Snow White, with Channing Tatum as a wolfman of some variety. Critics have disliked the Wachowski’s last two movies, but my complete enjoyment of them tells me I may be one of the few defending this movie in 2015.

February 13th: Kingsman: The Secret Service Another 2014 film pushed into 2015, Kingsman is directed by Matthew Vaughn, who looks to take another less-than-stellar Mark Millar comic (in this case, The Secret Service), and make it a great film, a’la Kick-Ass. This has already had a number of screenings, which have described the film as a brutal, modern take on the James Bond spy genre. I’m hoping this is as good as the first Kick-Ass, and not as bad as Kick-Ass 2.

February 20th: Hot Tub Time Machine 2 I enjoyed the first film a surprising amount, and I think the addition of Adam Scott to the cast could help the flick - but lets be honest, no one was screaming for a sequel here.

March 2015

March 6th: Chappie The latest film from Neill Blomkamp (District 9) looks to be a surreal tale of a police robot turned soft. Decidedly more in his wheelhouse than the less-than-warmly received Elysium, Blomkamp could win sci-fi fans back with this quirky looking film.

March 27th: Get Hard It’s two of the biggest comedic actors in the world today - Will Ferrell & Kevin Hart - in a prison comedy together. I can’t think of any prison comedies that have worked, but this will probably be HUGE either way.

April 2015

April 3rd: Furious 7 Since the soft-reboot of Fast Five, the Fast & Furious franchise has become one of my favorite guilty pleasures. Pushed nearly a year ahead after the tragic death of Paul Walker, the first trailer shows that the seventh installment looks as great (and ridiculous) as ever. Is it too much to ask that they end the series here?

May 2015

May 1st: Avengers: Age of Ultron There doesn’t even need to be words here. You’re reading this site? You’re seeing this. This movie will be HUGE.

May 15th: Mad Max: Fury Road Honestly, I just wanted an excuse to watch the trailer again. The first Mad Max film in nearly 30 years, Fury Road looks to be one of the most insane action films to ever be contained to the silver screen. A dark horse candidate for movie of the summer.

May 15th: Pitch Perfect 2 The first Pitch Perfect was a surprise joy, and the sequel looks to continue where the first left off. Let us now all submit ourselves to Anna Kendrick, blockbuster movie star.

May 22nd: Tomorrowland Brad Bird’s latest, Tomorrowland, has been shrouded in secrecy from day one, but with the release of the first teaser trailer, the film looks to be a sci-fi fantasy joy. If you haven’t watched the teaser yet, do so - and enjoy the goosebumps.

May 29th: San Andreas THE ROCK FIGHTS AN EARTHQUAKE. THE ROCK FIGHTS AN EARTHQUAKE. HOW YOU GONNA EFF WITH THAT?

June 2015

June 12th: Jurassic World How people disliked this trailer is beyond me. Jurassic World is looking like an absolute blast of a film, mixing Jurassic Park nostalgia with modern-day blockbuster filmmaking. Plus, y’know, the Chris Praptor Posse.

June 19th: Inside Out The first of two Pixar films this year, Inside Out may have a touch of Herman’s Head, but looks to be a great original film from the amazing animation team.

June 26th: Ted 2 I’m a bit ashamed to admit how much I enjoyed Ted. You have me for the sequel, McFarlane. Don’t make me regret it.

July 2015

July 1st: Terminator: Genisys The title is stupid. The first promo photos were awful. But that first trailer? Not too bad. Could either be an interesting re-birth for the franchise, or a movie that fans bitch about forever. But they said that about Terminator Salvation too, and we seem to have mostly forgotten about it.

July 17th: Ant-Man How do you follow Guardians of the Galaxy? With an even LONGER shot. Ant-Man has never been a beloved hero, even in the pages of the comics, and yet, here we are with a film about to launch. Better known at this point for its director troubles, Ant-Man has an amazing cast - but is that all the movie will be known for? We’ll see.

July 17th: Trainwreck Take comedy director king Judd Apatow. Take reigning comedy queen Amy Schumer. Combine in a film. It’s a combination that I have to see for myself. After all, I’m one of the few people who loved Funny People AND This Is 40.

July 24th: Pixels Described as Ghostbusters meets 1980’s Arcade Games, I’m not exactly proud to have an Adam Sandler movie on my list (despite just defending one), but I have to see how this turns out - if only for how amazing Peter Dinklage looks.

August 2015

August 7th: The Fantastic Four While this is pretty clearly not going to be the Fantastic Four we’re used to, the cast is made up of some of my favorite young talent going (Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara, Miles Teller), and after Chronicle, I’m willing to see any movie Josh Trank wants to make.

August 14th: The Man from U.N.C.L.E. I have absolutely no reverence for the television series that this movie is based on, but from the first image, released just yesterday, I am all in. A super stylish retro spy flick from THE man in British crime films, Guy Ritchie, starring Superman and the Winkelvoss Twins himself? $12 is yours, movie theater.

September 2015

Nothing. So far.

October 2015

October 16th: Crimson Peak I don’t know about you, but a victorian era horror film from Guillermo Del Toro is exactly how I want to spend my Halloween.

November 2015

November 6th: SPECTRE The revived Bond franchise continues with Daniel Craig’s fourth appearance as James Bond. Yes, the Sony leak told us the script needs work, but with Christoph Waltz as the main villain, I have to see this if only to see if Waltz can chew up an entire IMAX-sized screen with his infectious evil joy.

November 20th: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 I admit, I haven’t seen Part 1, yet, but based on how much I’ve enjoyed the first two installments of the dystopian JLaw franchise, I know that I’m going to have to finish the set.

November 25th: The Good Dinosaur The second Pixar movie of the year (holy crap we get TWO!), The Good Dinosaur has had a rough road to the big screen, but considering the last time one of their movies had a directorial replacement, we got Ratatoullie, I think this going to work out just fine.

November 25th: The Martian Ridley Scott directing one of the coolest books I’ve read this year? All in.

December 2015

December 18th: Star Wars: The Force Awakens Indie auteur JJ Abrams returns to his mumblecore roots with this film about family, hope, life and laughter.

December 25th: The Hateful Eight I don’t like me a western. I do like me a Quentin Tarantino movie. This ticket was bought before I even knew the title.

December 25th: Mission: Impossible 5 I’ve really enjoyed pretty much EVERY installment of this franchise, and I’m willing to bet the 5th time will be no different.

That’s twenty-nine movies that I already am looking forward to next year, and that’s not including movies that I haven’t seen trailers for yet, movies that blow people away at Sundance this year and get Fall releases, or any other surprises. It also doesn’t include the 2014 movies that I haven’t seen yet and will in 2015. (You can look at my Letterboxd account for that.)

It’s going to be a good year in movies. I can feel it.

What are you most looking forward to? Sound off in the comments.

A Few Thoughts On The Sony Hack, And The End of 'The Interview'

What an odd few weeks it’s been in the world of movies.

For those who have been under a rock, let me try to summarize what has happened. There are far better timelines and such out there, but hey, maybe one of you is using Blast-O-Rama as your resource. If so, thank you, and I worry for you.

Back on November 24th, Sony Pictures was hacked, by a group calling themselves the Guardians of Peace.

Apparently of North Korean origins (the US is saying so for now), the hack was in retaliation due to the Seth Rogen/James Franco starring The Interview, a movie where a talk show host (Franco) is tasked by the US Government to kill North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

This was a massive hack, which not only shut down all of Sony Pictures electronic operations, but resulted in a massive leak, which has produced everything from a number of movie screeners hitting the web, to extremely personal business email exchanges, to interesting projects in the works (such as a Sony/Marvel collaboration over Spider-Man, or a surreal Jump Street/Men In Black cross over).

In turn, it’s been a very odd time to be a movie fan. For every piece of information that grabs your eyes (YAY! MARVEL’S GETTING SPIDEY!) there’s bits that are sleazy and uncomfortable.

It brings to mind many questions about morals and ethics. Some have written far better missives about this process (looking at you, The Verge), and honestly, I’m not sure where I sit on the issue myself.

I love hearing about movie news and rumors…but the way this information came out, it makes me feel wrong for knowing what I know now. Did I need to know that Paul Reiser really wants a new Mad About You DVD Set? Did I need to know Sony Pictures head Amy Pascal is a racist?

And then, this week, things went above and beyond.

A new message emerged from the Guardians of Peace this week, threatening any and all theaters that “dared" to show The Interview. September 11th was invoked. Combined with a rumor of a “Christmas Gift", I can see why theaters decided to back out of showing the film. We can thank The Dark Knight Rises for their worries and concern.

The Interview, a movie I was interested in seeing (what can I say, I enjoyed This Is The End) - but by no means I considered an important, necessary work of art - became the center of worldwide panic.

Do we think this is what at all Rogen or Franco were thinking when they worked on this, along with Evan Goldberg?

I think its doubtful. Look at similar sophomoric political comedies like Team America or Hot Shots, look at honest to God classics like The Great Dictator. Movies have always taken shots at much higher targets. It’s the purpose of creative acts - to express a perspective on the world.

And I think that’s why Sony’s ultimate decision today, to completely bury the film, has me so concerned. Has me so bothered.

The Interview was by no means going to be an incredible, Academy Award winning piece of cinema - but it was one group’s creative outlet, their art, however you may roll your eyes at it. And today, a company decided it was best to bend to the whims of those who wish to strike fear, and snuff out the flame of creativity.

It feels weird to get so worked up about dick and fart jokes, but what can I say, I have a special place for them.

Maybe this increases the infamy of the movie - doing something that the Hackers didn’t want, making more people want to see something they “shouldn’t”. In that same breath, however - I’d never call myself super patriotic - but this move does not feel appropriately “American". We’ve censored something because it makes people uncomfortable. This could be the beginning of less gutsy, interesting filmmaking…especially as studio’s interests head internationally.

That’s why I’m hoping someone else steps in where Sony wouldn’t. Grab the rights to The Interview. Bring out the dumb comedy. VoD, iTunes, Amazon - you have my money. I need the laughs after this anyway.

Dust, Fire and Fury: The New 'Mad Max: Fury Road' Trailer Will BLOW YOUR MIND.

Mad Max: Fury Road has had an incredible journey to the big screen.

In development since the 1985 release of Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome, and with over two years of post-production (the movie completed its original filming in December 2012), this long-awaited fourth installment of the post apocalyptic saga finally hits theaters in May 2015. To get you excited, a second trailer has hit…and it is absolute freaking art.

www.youtube.com/watch

Starring Tom Hardy as the titular Max, with Charlize Theron as Furiosa, writer/director George Miller appears to have completely outdone himself.

The movie has been described as one gigantic, long chase sequence, and it looks to be an action film fans dream. It’s hard to put into words the intensity and scale of the action presented in this trailer.

This may be my most anticipated movie of Summer 2015. This looks incredible.

Mad Max: Fury Road hits theaters on May 15, 2015.

Tumblr Wins: Benedict Cumberbatch IS Doctor Strange

Marvel themselves confirmed one of the worst kept secrets in Hollywood, today - the I’s have been dotted, the T’s have been crossed…

Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock) will be the lead in Doctor Strange.

Ending a long running rumor mill that has placed actors as varied as Jacquin Phoenix and Jared Leto (wrong universe, I guess?) in the red cape, Cumberbatch will be casting the mystic arts.

From the official press release…

Cumberbatch’s Strange is the second major casting for “Phase 3" of the super successful Marvel Studios films, following the casting of Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther, who will debut in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War before being featured in his own solo film. This marks the latest nerd franchise for the hyper-popular Cumberbatch, who has padded his Sherlock appearances with parts in the Hobbit Trilogy and 2013’s Star Trek Into Darkness.

Doctor Strange, directed by Scott Derrickson, will hit theaters November 4, 2016.

'Terminator Genisys' Trailer Hits, Isn't As Bad As Its Promo Photos

It really could look a lot worse.

Today, as promised, Paramount Pictures has unveiled to the world the first proper look at their reboot of the time-traveling robot franchise with Terminator Genisys.

Despite the horrible title, despite the horrible promotional photos, this doesn’t really look…all that bad?

www.youtube.com/watch

Perhaps the conglomeration of bad things surrounding this film acted as a pre-emptive salve, but Genysis (I hate writing that word) looks like a potentially fun mashup of The Terminator and T2: Judgement Day with modern actors and what is - at least at this stage - really awful CGI. I do kinda like Emilia Clarke as Sarah Connor.

Jai Courtney will continue to be a thing no one cares about, however.

Terminator Genisys will probably be worth a matinee at best, when it hits theaters on July 1, 2015.

...And 'SPECTRE' Makes 24: New Bond Movie Revealed!

As promised, today in London, EON Studios let it rip and revealed all the major details about the new James Bond film, known up until today as Bond 24.

Fans of the franchise are going to freak, as the latest edition is titled…

SPECTRE.

That’s right, the evil terrorist organization featured in the Classic Bond films, starting with Dr. No is finally back. (Spectre, for those who forgot, stands for  SPecial Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion.)

Skyfall director Sam Mendes returns to direct SPECTRE, and Daniel Craig again plays Bond for his fourth go-around. Additionally returning are Ralph Finnes as M, Rory Kinnear as Tanner, Ben Whishaw as Q and Naomie Harris as Moneypenny.

As for the new cast members, our new Bond girls are LÁ©a Seydoux (Blue Is the Warmest Color) as Madeleine Swann and Monica Bellucci (The Matrix Reloaded) as Lucia Sciarra.

Sherlock fans will be excited to hear that Moriarty himself, Andrew Scott, will be joining the cast as Denbigh.  As for the bad guys? Ex-WWE/Current Guardian of the Galaxy Dave Bautista will be playing Mr. Hinx (I guess he’s a bad ass henchman), and praise the Gods, Christoph Waltz will be Oberhauser…who just has to be a cover for Blofeld, right?

Production on SPECTRE begins on Monday, and of course, there’s a sweet new car in play - a brand new Aston Martin, the DB10.

twitter.com/astonmart…

If that wasn’t enough, an awesome teaser poster was revealed, and is featured below.

For more details on SPECTRE, check out the official James Bond Twitter, or watch this embed of the press conference.

www.youtube.com/watch

SPECTRE hits theaters on November 6, 2015. After the massive success of the fantastic Skyfall, I have to believe this will be one of the biggest films of the year. I can’t wait.

Warner Bros Stacks The Deck With 'Suicide Squad'

Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment are working hard to take the comics movie crown away from Disney and Marvel Studios, and the next part of their connected universe is moving forward proper, with the official announcement of an absolutely star-studded cast for Suicide Squad.

Director David Ayer (Fury) is taking the lead for the film, which seems to share really only the title and the general concept from the team, while being closer in tone (and cast) to the 2011 reboot of the comic series, complete with Harley Quinn.

The movie places a number of super-villains under the control of the US Government, with their focus on doing the jobs too extreme for the government, in exchange for shortened jail time.

What makes this theatrical version of the Suicide Squad different, however, is the first-time inclusion of one of the biggest DC Comics villains of all time.

Here goes…your theatrical Suicide Squad is…

Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club) as The Joker

Will Smith (Men In Black) as Deadshot

Tom Hardy (Inception) as Rick Flagg

Margot Robbie (The Wolf of Wall Street) as Harley Quinn

Jai Courtney (A Good Day To Die Hard) as Boomerang

Cara Delevinge (Anna Karenina) as Enchantress

This is clearly a HUGE cast, with some bold choices.

Clearly, DC is not worried about legacy, as they go with the Oscar winning Jared Leto stepping into the purple suit of The Joker, with Heath Ledger’s interpretation still echoing through fans minds. Will Smith in what is typically a masked role will be interesting to see, if only to see if they cover the face that for years and years, sold tickets worldwide. (Also, a nice easter egg, as Will Smith kinda started us on the road to Batman v. Superman) Robbie gets a big time role as Harley Quinn, and I’m sure Hardy will do just fine post Mad Max, even if we’ll all be lamenting that he isn’t still Bane. I have no feelings about Delevinge, but goddamnit, why do we keep trying to make Jai Courtney happen, Hollywood?

Word is that DC is looking to Suicide Squad to be closer in tone to Ocean’s 11, which explains the star heavy cast. Apparently the stars will shine even brighter, as Jesse Eisenberg is said to be reprising his role from Batman v. Superman as Lex Luthor, and the strong taskmaster of Amanda Waller is said to be circled by either Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, or…get this…Oprah Winfrey.

Of the DC Comics films in progress from Warner Bros., Suicide Squad already sounds like a better result than the introduction-heavy Batman v. Superman, but time will tell if this is the beginning of a rivalry with Marvel, or a second round knockout.

Suicide Squad starts filming this April, and hits theaters on August 5, 2016.

'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Teaser: Begun This Episode VII Hype Has

Today, as promised, Lucasfilm made Black Friday a little brighter with the official release of the first teaser trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the seventh installment of the Star Wars saga.

Due in December 2015, this will mark the first film in the Star Wars series since Revenge of the Sith in 2004, and acts as a sequel to 1983’s Return of the Jedi.

The trailer went live today via Apple’s trailer page, but has also been mirrored on YouTube, and we have it embedded for you below.

www.youtube.com/watch

The teaser is just that, with an emphasis on tease. It’s just enough imagery to make a Star Wars fan go nutty. You get a glimpse of Attack The Block’s John Boyega in a Stormtrooper outfit, future-nerd-queen Daisy Ridley on a new-school speeder of some sort, an adorable orbed droid, the newly re-designed Stormtroopers (that leak was REAL!) our new big Sith baddie (with a weird broadsword style lightsaber), and in the money shots, new X-Wing and Millennium Falcon sequences!

It’s going to inspire hours of nerd debate and joy, and really, that’s all we need. Star Wars is back, and looks to be in the right hands with JJ Abrams.

Now to watch it thirty more times.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits theaters on December 18th, 2015.

I Don't Get The Point of 'Pan'

I realize that the given way to make money these days in Hollywood is to take an existing thing and try to do a new spin on it…or just continue it with countless sequels. I don’t blame them - so far, it’s made a lot of money.

Released yesterday, the first trailer for Pan is Warner Bros.' attempt to re-birth the Peter Pan mythos, with a prequel, showing Pan as a young boy, teamed with a super handsome James Hook, battling…Blackbeard, apparently?

www.youtube.com/watch

The casting is star driven, with Hugh Jackman going for camp with his version of Blackbeard, and the world continuing to try to make Garret Hedlund (Tron Legacy) happen, as he seemingly tries to do a bad Daniel-Day-Lewis-in-There-Will-Be-Blood vocal impression as Hook.

All and all, it looks like they’re trying to mix Burton’s Alice In Wonderland with Harry Potter and calling it a Peter Pan film.  I wonder if they’re going to show us how and when Peter becomes an asshole and feeds his buddy Hook’s hand to a crocodile?

The x-factor possibly in their favor is Joe Wright, who built his name on British weepies like Pride & Prejudice, Attonement and Anna Karina, but he’s also responsible for the awesomness that was Hanna, so it could be good.

Either way, Pan is shooting for (at best) second behind Hook as best Peter Pan re-interpretation, and so far, all it has going for it in my favor is Rooney Mara’s Tiger Lilly. And even that’s a conflicting bit of white-washing.

Pan hits theaters on June 26, 2015.

Ridin' With The Dinos: Our First Look At 'Jurassic World'

A tip of the hat to Universal Studios here.

With a countdown set ending at 9pm Thanksgiving Night, fans everywhere were jittering with anticipation for the first Jurassic World trailer. We even watched a 15 second glimpse millions of times, for goodness sake.

Instead, the marketing gods smiled upon us and delivered the new trailer to us today. And it looks marvelous.

Go ahead, click play below.

www.youtube.com/watch

I’m not sure what I love the most - how Jurassic World is a literal theme park, how the movie retains Jurassic Park’s wry eye of satire (look at those smartphones), how the cast is stacked with solid character actors, how wonderfully know-it-all Bryce Dallas Howard’s geneticist seems, or how Chris Pratt seems like a way-better-at-his-job Muldoon, I just know it seems awesome.

Oh wait, I know the best part…

[caption id=“attachment_19949” align=“aligncenter” width=“499”] Thanks, Tumblr.[/caption]

Some people on the Internet have been complaining already about the film involving a genetically modified dinosaur, but it just continues the series’ obsession on whether or not Man should play God.

Besides, if after a trailer that fun, all you can do is pick at it, you don’t deserve to like movies.

Jurassic Worlds first trailer told me everything I need to know: it’s going to be a rip-roaring good time at the cinema. And on that alone, I’m in. Good freakin’ job, Colin Trevorrow.

Jurassic World hits theaters on June 12, 2015.

What Happened To Pixar? (Worries About A Struggling Studio)

Since 1995’s Toy Story, the computer animation geniuses at Pixar had been a run that can only be described as genre defining.

I was 11 years old when Woody and Buzz came into my life, and the results were nothing short of defining. I became obsessed with movies. The in’s and out’s of their creations. These amazing characters, so richly detailed, were made from computers?

I had always been an inquisitive child, interested in learning as much about things as I could - but I think it was Toy Story that made me a true film nerd. I could tell you as much about Tom Hanks and Tim Allen as I could John Lasseter. And for many many years, Pixar delivered movies that amazed me.

I remember Monsters, Inc. tugging at my heart strings with the adorable Boo. I remember when Toy Story 2 spoke to me as a toy collector at the time, while also showing that sequels can improve on the original. I remember The Incredibles being everything I’ve ever wanted out of a movie, from an amazing score by Michael Giacchino, to being a Silver-Age superhero film that my Wizard-addled mind could only dream of. I remember the amazing short films that came before each movie, packed away in the DVD extras. I remember the shared tears as my family and I watched Toy Story 3 together on Blu-Ray one Thanksgiving.

They were the movies I could talk about and share with anyone - from my film nerd friends, to my parents, to little cousins. You knew that if you paid for your ticket to a Pixar film, you’d be guaranteed an impeccable movie experience.

The less said about the Cars franchise, the better. (I know, kids love it.)

The peak? The amazing three film streak they released from 2007 to 2009. Three films created in the time period where they didn’t know if they were going independent, or staying with Disney. The brillance-out-of-chaos production of Ratatoullie which mixed rats, food and criticism. The apocalyptic yet uplifting Wall-E which warmed our hearts with an adorable robot, while questioning what we’ve done (and may do) to our planet. The love-lorn adventure of Up, mixing some of the saddest animation ever with the bold thrills of pulp - to see what lives BEYOND THERE! I don’t know that there’s been a gutsier trio of films made by any studio or creative force back to back, especially under the guise of “family entertainment".

They’ve been praised, heralded by animation aficionados as one of the greatest studios ever, spoken in similar tones of the masterworks created by Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli. They’ve made billions at the box office. They’ve been imitated by other studios such as Dreamworks and Warner Bros. Animation.

…But I worry the sterling reputation has been tarnished, and may not shine again for some time. Since 2011’s Cars 2, something has been off about Pixar. And I’m not sure if - or when - it will turn around.

Cars 2 marked the first instance of audiences turning against the computer animation giant. Is it coincidence that Cars 2 was the first Pixar film in production after the Disney merger (where Pixar head John Lassiter became the overall Disney Animation lead)? Perhaps. But it is here where things have started to come apart. Cars 2 was the first Pixar film to get a “Rotten" certification from Rotten Tomatoes, and while what followed isn’t what I’d call “bad", it’s clear that things aren’t right in Emeryville.

2012’s Brave, while a decent movie, was clearly undermined by creative issues behind the scenes. While Brave was not the first Pixar film to undergo significant changes during the production process (see the conversion of Toy Story 2 from direct-to-video to theatrical production, or the transition of directors on Ratatoullie), Brave was the first instance where the Pixar magic started to feel strained. It’s clear that the removal of director Brenda Chapman hurt something. Re-watching the film now, Brave is still enjoyable, but doesn’t have that emotional drive of the rest of Pixar’s work. It entertains, but doesn’t go for that second level that sticks with you. It was as if they took the elements of the movie that remained and tried to make the best of what they had.

2013’s Monster’s University was an enjoyable film for sure, poking fun at college comedy tropes mixed with some memorable new monsters, but it never justified its existence. What reason was there to tell another story with the Monsters, Inc. gang? I still can’t tell you. I’m entertained, it’s funny, but again - it never hits that Pixar sweet spot, where art and intelligence combine into one incredibly human film, made with the latest technology.

Heck, it’s even been difficult to be a Pixar director, as Andrew Stanton (Wall-E, Finding Nemo) was left holding the bag when Disney’s John Carter adaptation was a bomb…despite being a pretty fun movie (with input from Pixar’s Braintrust, no less).

2014 marked the first year since 2005 without a Pixar film.

Due to the intense creative issues with The Good Dinosaur (yep, another director replacement), a movie that proposes the idea of what would have happened if dinosaurs had never been wiped out, Pixar decided to sit a year out.

And in doing so, it’s revealed the breadth of the world of animation around them.

Yes, Dreamworks is still courting the second-tier with films like Madagascar 3 and Dr. Peabody & Sherman, but they’ve shown they can be as effective as the big lamp studio with franchises such as Kung Fu Panda and How To Train Your Dragon. Warner Bros. Animation blew us all away with this year’s The LEGO Movie (although that’s a bubble that may get pushed to the bursting point), and perhaps in the most stinging bit of reality - Walt Disney Animation showed back up to reclaim it’s crown.

With John Lassiter firmly implanted as lead, Disney is back on top, with the incredible back-to-back performance of Tangled, Wreck-It Ralph, Frozen (which is the highest grossing animated film of all-time) and this Fall’s sublime Big Hero 6.

What’s a Pixar to do?

In their favor, they’re firing back in 2015 with not just one, but two original films.

June 19, 2015 brings Inside Out, a new film from director Pete Docter, who gave us Monster’s Inc. and Up. Seemingly a CG version of Herman’s Head, the movie personifies the emotions of a young girl. The voice cast, including Amy Poehler and Bill Hader is promising and the artwork looks great. I will admit that the first trailer has me a bit worried - is the footage of Pixar film’s prior supposed to remind me of the good times, or set up Inside Out as the heir-apparent?

November 25, 2015 will bring an all-new, all-different version of The Good Dinosaur. Now under the watchful eye of first-time director Peter Sohn (a Pixar artist who was the inspiration for Up’s Russell), the Los Angeles Times ran a piece on the considerable reboot of the film this week, which directly inspired this post. It sounds like the film is in a better place. Pixar’s pulled great movies out of this process before, and I am hoping for the best. Maybe I’ll be eating every one of these words come the end of next year.

What’s hazy, though - is the extended outlook for Pixar. Sadly, after these two unique films, we’re looking at MANY, MANY sequels.

Cars 3, The Incredibles 2, Finding Dory, Toy Story 4.

Yeah, Cars prints money, but isn’t the Planes franchise doing everything Disney needs it to? Sure, we’ve wanted an Incredibles sequel for years, but what if it’s awful? What did Finding Nemo leave unanswered? Yes, the Toy Story sequels have been wonderful, but why tempt the fate?

The only other original project discussed for the future is known currently as Untitled Pixar film about DÁ­a de los Muertos. In development from director Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3), we haven’t heard much about the movie since its announcement in 2012. I certainly hope the release (and relative meh reception) to The Book of Life hasn’t hurt this film. It could be amazing.

Current Pixar head Edwin Catmull has stated that he intends to have Pixar work on “1.5" films a year. Original films every year, sequels, every other year. Right now, all I see is sequels, and I need to have the hope that the Pixar that wowed me with Toy Story, made dreams come alive with The Incredibles and floored me with Ratatoullie, Wall-E and Up still exists.

I want to believe in the Pixar name again.

A History of Batmen, Or: NECA Toys Delivers Figure I've Dreamed Of All My Life

Tim Burton’s Batman was a life changing experience for me. I was 5 years old in 1989, and as a young comic book fan (Batman and Spider-Man being my favs, even now), the movie absolutely broke my brain.

Yeah, I can watch it now with a more critical eye and see how “off” it was for a Batman movie and what not, but that movie was a defining experience. I can watch it now, 25 years later, and spout off entire sequences of dialogue. I lived for that movie as a kid.

Unfortunately, the best option we had as a kid for a Batman action figure (which - of course - I needed), was this guy, from Toy Biz. I remember being so happy getting him for Christmas in 1989. Countless fruitless searches at Woolworths, K-Mart and other stores paid off, no more searching through pegs of Bob The Goon!

Toy Biz was still relatively new in the world of action figures. Made off of a modified Super Powers mold, I remember their early figures feeling cheap, with paint that would easily flake off. Not really the best look for a defining character of my childhood.

I mean - Batman needed to be a part of all of my childhood play scenarios, but his figure was not so great, and didn’t really stand up, especially that weird grappling hook belt. I’m pretty sure I lost his grappling hook gun almost immediately. The Batmobile was pretty cool though, even with its crappy plastic “cocoon”.

Less than a year later, Kenner took over the Batman license starting with the Dark Knight Collection line. At its center piece were two fantastic Batman and Joker figures. The “Crime Attack Batman” figure was absolutely perfect, and everything I had wanted as a kid - even if it wasn’t screen accurate. I’m pretty sure this guy is still in solid condition somewhere at my parent’s house - although I definitely lost all of the accessories.

Since then, however, there have been many many Batman action figures, but very few that have been what I’d call “movie accurate” for the ‘89-styled Bats.

Last year, Mattel made a solid attempt at 1989 Batman figure as a part of their “DC Multiverse” line. However, the small scale and relatively high price turned me off. At least it had a masked and an unmasked version.

Enter NECA Toys.

NECA, over the past decade (roughly) has been the defacto replacement for what MacFarlane Toys was in the late 90’s and early 00’s - the source of high quality pop-culture based action figures.  They’ve done many lines, including horror characters, Aliens, Predator, those awesome Pacfic Rim figures, and they even own Kid Robot now.

As a part of their ongoing “Classic Video Game” line, which featured characters like Jason, Freddy and Predator based off of their NES games (complete with retro boxes and limited color palettes), NECA blew everyone’s mind with a figure based on the Nintendo Batman game.

Look at it! If it weren’t colored so odd, it’d be a perfect Keaton-era Batman.

Sadly, said NECA, their agreement only allowed them to release it specifically in that colorway.

Or…did it?

Yesterday, NECA officially unveiled - and put up for sale - a very special edition of the new Batman 25th Anniversary Blu-Ray. I’m not sure how they convinced Warner Bros. to make it happen, but the combination of NECA’s screen perfect Batman figure and a Blu-Ray have sold so fast, they temporarily broke the eBay listing.

That’s right, you can get this figure and Blu-Ray combo (with it’s amazing Toy Biz homage packaging) for just $30 on eBay. The combo ships on December 9th, just in time for Christmas.

I think I know what I want under my tree this year. Even though I already have Batman on Blu-Ray. 5 year old me deserves it.

God Help Me, I'm Excited For 'Pitch Perfect 2'

I came into the original Pitch Perfect not out of protest, but - I guess out of a sense of loyalty.

My lovely, long-suffering fiancÁ© Sam asked me to see it with her. I cause her to see many of the massive nerd films and Hollywood blockbusters that I talk about at length on here, and while she enjoys some (if not most), I know that there are those she does not care for. And one day, that came to roost.

She wanted to see Pitch Perfect.

All I knew about the movie going in was that I hated the film’s poster and that the plot sounded like Glee-light.

In the movies favor? It starred the delightful Anna Kendrick, who had grabbed my attention with her turns in 50/50, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and Up In The Air. I think I owed Sam for seeing Looper earlier that week anyway - even though she ended up loving it. (She has heart-eyes for Joseph Gordon-Levitt.)

Lights go down, movie goes up, and to my shock, the flick was fantastic. It could have been a generic, trope filled mess. Instead, with a witty script, incredible casting, and one of the best soundtracks from a film possibly ever (SUCH GREAT MASHUPS!), I loved every single minute.

…it didn’t hurt that one scene was basically Super Art Fight with a capella.

It seems like the rest of the world seemed to agree, as Pitch Perfect went on to be a surprise hit, generating $113 Million worldwide on a $17 million budget. It made a star of Rebel Wilson, and increased the notoriety of Ms. Kendrick (who even scored a Billboard hit with “Cups".)

Pitch Perfect has gone on to be quite the favorite in our household - with literally dozens of rewatches on Blu-Ray - and this May, Pitch Perfect 2 hits theaters. It may be the only movie rivaling Avengers: Age of Ultron as a Summer 2015 most-wanted between my to-be wife and I.

And today, we have the trailer.

www.youtube.com/watch

Pitch Perfect 2 takes the Mighty Ducks approach, and takes our lovely group of singers - the Barden Bellas and throwing them into a Worldwide tournament. Some elements look great! (David Cross? OH SNAP.) Some look…less than great. (SURPRISE! The Germans are the villains because Germans.) But I’m excited to see what may come out of this. The scale certainly appears to be bigger on this one. Helps to have a larger budget, right?

Perhaps Pitch Perfect was a Bring It On moment - a surprisingly great movie coming out of a hackneyed premise. Sequels to great comedies are few and far between. With the first film’s producer Elizabeth Banks making her directorial debut here, I have to think she wants to stick the landing. Lightning can strike twice. I just know that - I may never admit it - but I’m going to be the one pushing my fiancÁ© to see this one opening weekend.

Pitch Perfect 2 hits theaters on May 15, 2015

Big Hero 6 (2014): A Review

The Superhero film - like any genre - has its formula.

A steady three act structure. Act 1, we set the tone and characters. Act 2, something doesn’t go right for our hero (or heroes). Act 3, it all comes together, evil is defeated, and good continues to win the day.

So - when the structure is so solid, how do you approach it?

If you’re Disney - it’s with excitement and heart, and that’s on display in their latest release, Big Hero 6.

Loosely based on a Marvel comic (pretty much only the character names and vague concept are ported over here), and set in a made up city called San Fransokyo (it’s like if Blade Runner went right), our lead protagonist is a young teenage genius, Hiro Hamada. Hiro is incredibly bright, but lacks focus, wasting his skills on underground robot fighting. His brother Tadashi, however, is working hard in the robotics wing of San Fransokyo University - with his prize creation being Baymax, an incredibly friendly robot focused on healthcare and well-being.

Hiro and Tadashi live with their aunt, with their parents dying at a young age. Like any good Disney movie, it’s probably not a spoiler to say that Tadashi doesn’t stay in the picture for very long - and as a villainous mystery ensues, Hiro - alongside the wonderful mix of personalities that made up Tadashi’s fellow robotics students - quickly wind up in the world of superheroics.

We’re clearly coloring in the lines in Big Hero 6, but what makes the movie shine is the palette that directors Don Hall and Chris Williams use to shine. From incredible action sequences (a flying scene is equal parts How To Train Your Dragon, Kiki’s Delivery Service and the opening of Futurama), inspired voice work (Damon Wayans Jr. is a delight, as is Maya Rudolph as Aunt Cass, and comedian TJ Miller as burn out fanboy Fred), and absolutely beautiful design, as every inch of San Fransokyo shines, from small details like Hiro’s awesome robot clock to the blimps that shine high above the city.  I especially love how the movie actually bumps convention at times, too, with science ruling the day, and the most bad-ass character being female (complete with a catchphrase of “Woman Up!")

The movie’s not-so-secret weapon, however? Baymax.

Voiced by 30 Rock’s Scott Adsit, Baymax is one of the greatest creations in the modern Disney lexicon. Huggable, hilarious, and with a silicon heart of gold, you can’t take your eyes off him. The film’s trailers may have taken the shine off of some of his antics, but Baymax represents some of the best physical comedy ever rendered in CG. The acting of Adsit also somehow brings an indelible warmth to Baymax’s robotic voice, which just adds to the love he clearly forms in the audience. There will be a lot of Baymaxes under Christmas trees this year.

Yes, the movie does eventually fall into the same “rush to the end" trap that all superhero movies do. Yes, you can see the twists and turns coming from a mile away. But when a movie nails a formula so hard, it’s difficult to not enjoy every single minute of it.

More Wreck-It Ralph than Frozen (although Ralph is still the better movie), Big Hero 6 continues the Walt Disney Animation Studio renaissance started with 2010’s Tangled. It’s a fun, exciting movie for animation fans of all ages.

Now, if you don’t mind, I have to figure out which Baymax I’m going to buy off the Internet.

Additional Notes: I saw Big Hero 6 in 2D, so I cannot speak to the film’s 3D quality. With the 3D being rendered natively from the computer generated files, it’s probably pretty good - especially the flying sequences. The film is prefaced by a brilliant short, Feast, which will tug at your heart-strings, particularly if you love dogs. Oh, and stay through the credits…especially if you’re a superhero fan.

An Epic End: 'The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies' Trailer

This December, Peter Jackson brings his tales of Middle Earth to a true end.

After three amazing Lord of the Rings films, and - thus far - two installments of The Hobbit, thirteen years of films come to an end with The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.

Warner Bros. released the final trailer for this third Hobbit film, and it is - as one would expect, epic.

www.youtube.com/watch

Sure, no Smaug. Sure, barely any of the titular hobbit. But it’s hard to not have an incredible sense that a major chapter of filmmaking has come to an end.

Perhaps The Battle of the Five Armies will continue the upward trend of the Hobbit films. The Desolation of Smaug was a significant improvement on An Unexpected Journey, and while I continue to believe The Hobbit could have been told in just one film - this trailer does a lot to revive the spark for Middle-Earth I once had.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies releases December 17, 2014.

'Toy Story 4' Is Real, Set For June 2017

It’s been a very unexpected day from Walt Disney Pictures.

First, Lucasfilm (which they own) announced the official title for the next Star Wars movie - The Force Awakens.

Then, earlier this evening, Pixar surprised us all by announcing…

Toy Story 4.

That’s right - in Summer 2017, seven years after the remarkable third installment of the Toy Story series (which perhaps is the only great “threequel"), former Pixar head and current Walt Disney Animation Studios head John Lasseter (Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Cars) returns to the directors chair and brings us a fourth adventure starring Woody and Buzz.

Described as a “love story", the story was drummed up by Lassister and fellow Pixar veterans Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo), Pete Docter (Up) and Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3) and the script will be written by the surprising duo of Will McCormack and Rashida Jones. Yes, as in Parks and Recreation actress Rashida Jones. They last teamed as the script writers for the indie-flick Celeste And Jesse Forever.

Disney’s official fan site, D23 has the full story, including this key quote from Lasseter:

I have to admit - I doubted the possible quality of Toy Story 3 and we ended up with one of the most emotional films of all time.  Don’t make me regret believing in you, guys.

Can Pixar bring back the magic? Or is this another instance of sequelitis? We’ll find out when Toy Story 4 hits theaters on June 16, 2017

Star Wars Episode VII has a title...

The Force Awakens.

Announced today with a confirmation of the completion of principal photography, I’d expect we’ll get a full press release and what not shortly.

twitter.com/starwars/…

Certainly indicates we’ll be seeing more Jedi in the new trilogy, yeah?

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens hits theaters on December 18, 2015.

Interstellar (2014): A Review

Ambition is a hard thing to fault.

That’s the phrase that’s been bouncing through my head since last night’s screening of Interstellar, director Christopher Nolan’s latest film.

Ambition not only seems to be the drive of the filmmaker here, but also the film itself.  Set in a not-too-distant future where the Government has been disbanded, most of our crops have died off, we’re constantly dealing with toxic dust clouds, and schools teach that the moon landing was faked - so as to reduce the aspiration to go beyond our dying planet - the status quo of Interstellar is a heavy one. And unfortunately, one we may be heading into ourselves.

But even in the times of darkness, there is the spark of humanity, the inspiration to do more. In the film, our great hope lies within Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), a widowed father of two. One of NASA’s last great pilots-in-training, Cooper’s plans to see the stars were ended abruptly, thanks to a combination of a bad test flight, the end of NASA’s funding, and the loss of his wife. Now, alongside his father-in-law Donald (John Lithgow), he tries to make ends meet as a Farmer, raising his children Murphy (Mackenzie Foy) and Tom (TimothÁ©e Chalamet), while growing one of the only crops left - corn.

Time is running out - and after a surreal message thanks to the magic of gravity - Cooper soon finds himself back in the world of NASA, following the audacious hopes of Professor Brand (Michael Caine), piloting mankind’s last hope - a spaceship headed directly into a wormhole, with the goal of finding an inhabitable planet for all of humanity on the other side.

It’s heady, heavy material - as one would expect with a tagline of “Mankind was born on Earth. It was never meant to die here.”  And over it’s nearly three hour run time, Interstellar goes farther into the world of space exploration and the good and bad of humanity than any film in recent memory. Christopher Nolan, who directed, produced, and co-wrote the film (alongside his brother Jonathan Nolan, who originally wrote it for Steven Spielberg) has always been a director who aims to match blockbuster stakes with an imbued intelligence with each of his films.  It’s not the average director who decides to set a heist film in a dream, focus on a magician’s deadly rivalry, or set an entire film in reverse order, and Interstellar follows in Christopher Nolan’s path to mix pop art with high-minded film-making.

Interstellar, partially a brain child of theoretical physicist Kip Thorne, can sometimes sway under the weight of deep discussion of physics, time, and relativity (it’s as if Nolan is addressing those who felt Inception didn’t explain enough), but it is the films basis in these concepts - alongside universal human concepts such as love, legacy, survival, and the sins of the father - that adds incredible import to every scene and every sequence.  Before you worry that the film is TOO heady - the movie is full of stunning sci-fi landscapes, tense action sequences, and some of the coolest robot sidekicks ever (which somehow never feel crass or overdone). Mixing both of these worlds makes the movie stronger, and sure to leave a lasting impact with audiences.  The adventure lasts across generations, and even for as long as it is, you never feel bored or disengaged. There’s a sequence in the second act that feels a bit tacked on, but pays off strongly - proving that if you give the film the time, it will deliver in spades.

Each element of the film is an incredible treat. The cast produces stunning work for the most part - a verifiable who’s-who of names (with strong performances from Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain), including some name actors that I didn’t expect to see in the film. The cinematography is stunning (coming from Hoyte van Hoytema, filling in for Nolan’s usual go-to, Wally Pfister), the CGI work is jaw dropping, and Hans Zimmer has produced perhaps his greatest score ever.

Does the movie succeed completely at it’s goals? Perhaps not. The film has an absolutely surprising third act, with shades of 2001, that never quite reaches the lofty heights of that film-defining classic. But at the same time, it may be better to admire a film for reaching just out of it’s grasp. With Interstellar, Christopher Nolan may have aimed for Kubrick, but landed at Spielberg - and that may not be a bad thing.  The film is one that will stick with you for sometime to come, reverberating in your head for ages.

I’ve always been fascinated with space. Fascinated with our place in the universe, and the audacity and the ambition to rise above and see beyond what is in front of us. As I walked out of Interstellar last night, I looked in the sky and found myself looking again with that child-like awe. Not many films can do that for me. This is something special.

Go see Interstellar. See it on the biggest screen you can find. Look forward to debating it with friends for years to come. This is more than a movie - it’s an experience you absolutely must be a part of.

'Furious 7' Trailer Features Intense Action & A Family Focus

Following the tragic death of actor Paul Walker, Fast & Furious 7 - now titled Furious 7 (continuing the strangest naming convention in film series history) - has had a long and hard road to the screen.

This weekend, the first trailer for the James Wan-directed film has hit the web and it’s honestly everything a fan of the Fast & Furious Franchise could want.

Primarily focusing on a high-stakes breakout sequence featuring one super powered bus full of baddies and four cars featuring our car-crazed heroes, the Furious 7 trailer gives fans the positive first impression they need heading into the April 2015 release.

What’s interesting is how much the Fast & Furious franchise has changed from a car stunt based series to one based on characters and mythology, in fact, there seem to be a number of NON-vehicle related action sequences in this one!

www.youtube.com/watch

I applaud the marketing team from not avoiding sequences showcasing Paul Walker’s Brian O’Conner, and while this may end up being the final part of the long-running series, Furious 7 is looking like it delivers on the promise made with the soft-reboot of Fast Five - crazy action, amazing vehicles, and above all - family.

Furious 7 revs into theaters on April 3, 2015.

'Terminator: Genisys' Looks Worse Than The Title Reads

Man, oh man. The reboot of the Terminator franchise is NOT getting off on the right foot.

Earlier today, Entertainment Weekly unveiled their two special edition covers featuring the cast from the beginning of the new Terminator franchise - the unfortunately titled Terminator: Genisys.

Let’s have that title sink in for a minute, yeah?

Ok. Bad. Now, get ready for it to be even worse.

The franchise looks to be serving many masters with the cast of this reboot, which aims to be everything Terminator Salvation wasn’t.

We’ve got big time geek leads, such as Game of Thrones’ Emilia Clarke as Sarah Connor and Doctor Who himself, Matt Smith as a mystery character. To please the studio, we’ve got Jai Courtney (who you may recall the awful A Good Day to Die Hard) as Kyle Reese and Zero Dark Thirty’s Jason Clarke as a future John Connor.

And then, we got to see the images.

Hoo boy. That’s what the studio and magazine agreed were the best images? Clarke looks bored. The costumes look like bad cosplay. And if Matt Smith is supposed to - at all - look like a bad ass, well, someone failed miserably here.

Perhaps I’m being too harsh. Sometimes, great movies have awful publicity photos.

Surely, the plot can’t be awful, right? Let’s see what the accompanying article has to say…

Yep, that’s right. The T—800 is now Sarah Connor’s daddy. Guess they’re going with the old adage of “If you CAN do anything with time travel, you SHOULD!“

You can read more of this awful sounding write up on EW.com.

Terminator: Genisys ruins your childhood on July 1, 2015.

EDIT - 8:07am, October 30, 2014

Four more awful promotional photos have surfaced online. Oh man.

Emilia Clarke, I had such high hopes for your career…

Have You Seen The 'American Sniper' Trailer? Because, DAMN.

I have to admit - real life (and Super Art Fight gigs) have had me more behind the ball than usual when it comes to seeing the latest and greatest movie trailers.

This weekend, though, I got back out to the movie theater - seeing Gone Girl, which was great - and alongside the movie, I saw a trailer that knocked me on my ass…the first trailer for Bradley Cooper’s American Sniper.

www.youtube.com/watch

American Sniper has been a passion project for Cooper for a few years. I recall him talking about it on the press run for Silver Linings Playbook, and I think Steven Spielberg was attached to direct at a point, too.

Clint Eastwood eventually settled into the director’s chair, and as this first trailer (or more accurately, extended clip) shows, the final film is going to be intense.

Bradley Cooper has become an actor that, to my surprise, always delivers. Between Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle, he’s an actor I now give extra attention to, and American Sniper definitely jumped up on my “must see” list.

This makes three movies I now want to see on Christmas Day - between the absurd humor of The Interview, Disney’s attempt at bringing Into the Woods to the big screen, and now American Sniper, there’s going to be something for everyone.

American Sniper hits theaters on December 25, 2014.

Hammer Time: New 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' Clip

Now, that is more like it.

Aired during last night’s episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on ABC here in the states, fans were treated to a new extended clip from Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Shown originally to fans at San Diego Comic Con back in July - and shown again at a Marvel Unlimited event at New York Comic Con earlier this month - the clip shows Steve, Tony, Bruce and the gang enjoying themselves at Avengers Tower, as everyone tries to pick up Mjolnir - Thor’s hammer.

www.youtube.com/watch

It’s a fun, light scene that provides the witty banter and enjoyable back-and-forth that Joss Whedon is known for, and made The Avengers such a joy back in 2012. Of course, the party is quickly ruined, but it’s good to know that the final film will match its epic tone with Whedon’s trademark wit. I mean, why else have him write and direct it then?

Nice to see Rhodey’s going to be in the movie too. You get that Avengers money, Don Cheadle!

Thanks to Marvel’s official YouTube channel for the link.

Avengers: Age of Ultron hits theaters on May 1, 2015.

Marvel Drops The Mic: PHASE THREE Announced

In a move akin to how Apple handles a new iPhone announcement, Disney and Marvel Studios took to the stage of the El Capitan Theatre today before an audience made up of the enthusiast press, filmmakers, comic book writers, and some very lucky fans for a “very special announcement.“ And it’s safe to say - they delivered.

Coming less than a week after the surprise leak of the Avengers: Age of Ultron trailer - ruining ABC’s plans of airing it during this week’s episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige took the stage and announced, in its presumed entirety, the plans for Marvel’s Phase Three.

It was a move similar to Warner Bros’ shocking announcement of a full slate of DC Comics based films earlier this month, but handled very differently. More on that later.

But first…

Phase Two expanded the universe, providing greater character integration and giving Disney multiple mega hits in Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier - and shockingly, Guardians of the Galaxy.

May 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron brings Phase Two to an end (leaving the Paul Rudd starring Ant-Man in some sort of Phase limbo), but it looks like Marvel’s most exciting days are ahead of them.

Confirming one of the worst kept secrets in Hollywood - Feige announced that after Age of Ultron, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is getting its own taste of the 2006 Marvel Comics crossover Civil War, complete with Captain America and Iron Man serving as the two sides of the conflict.

I think this may actually be one of the bigger risks in the Phase Three line-up, in a series of shocking and bold choices.

The title seems to be rather foreboding, with Ragnarok being the Norse God apocalypse. I wonder if this will be Thor’s last stand…

I don’t want to say it was passing the torch, but there was a great moment where Boseman was announced by Feige, and he was invited to share the stage alongside Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. The message was clear: Black Panther stands just as tall as anyone else in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Also, how cool does this concept art for the movie look?

[caption id=“attachment_19681” align=“aligncenter” width=“600”] Click to Enlarge[/caption]

There is no official word on who will be playing Captain Marvel (presumably based on the Kelly Sue DeConnick run) at this time. Speculation currently places Edge of Tomorrow’s Emily Blunt as the front-runner, having flirted with Marvel Studios in the past, having nearly played Black Widow and Peggy Carter in Iron Man 2 and Captain America: The First Avenger respectively.

Is this how Marvel Studios is putting the hurt on the X-Men franchise (currently tied up over at Fox)? Is this going to be how Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch aren’t mutants? Stay tuned, true believers.

It’s clear that this will be an all-encompassing battle of the Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Inhumans, Captain Marvel, Black Panther, Ant-Man and Doctor Strange, tossing all of the toys into one big Infinity Gauntlet fueled sandbox. In turn, it’s hard to blame them to take the Harry Potter/Hunger Games route of splitting Infinity War into two parts.

What will be most interesting is who shows up in what films.

Prior to his Civil War deal, Robert Downey Jr. was only signed for Avengers: Age of Ultron and Avengers 3. As mentioned above, Helmsworth is signed for a third Thor and two Avengers films (including Age of Ultron). We know that Chris Evans’ deal to play Captain America is running out (but…weirdly enough, Sebastian Stan’s deal as Bucky/The Winter Soldier is quite longer).

It’s the type of conversation that results in deep nerd talk, somewhere between fan-fiction and the contract talk of industry magazines like Variety. I’m sure we all have our theories as to what happens (mine puts Thor in a Gandalf The White scenario), but the fact is, over the span of one hour, by simply announcing titles and dates, Marvel Studios officially marked the world’s calendars for the next five years. And we’re all very excited.

…but didn’t we just do this song and dance a few weeks ago? With the other guys?

Today’s press conference showed what Disney/Marvel Studios has in spades over Warner Bros./DC Entertainment - planning and heart.

Looking over the slate of films announced by Warner Bros through 2020 - does it feel like there’s a plan? Does it feel like there’s a thought? Or are they picking names and dates out of a hat and seeing what sticks?

I get it - WB needs something now that Harry Potter is over and The Hobbit is almost completed. But who’s pulling it together?

It speaks a deafening volume that Marvel chose to present their slate of films in a celebratory way - in front of the press and its fans, but DC’s movies were announced during an investor’s conference call.

I love when competition inspires the best out of both sides, but right now, DC hasn’t even had a chance to throw a punch, and the battle is looking lost.

Marvel is firing on all cylinders, with 10 amazing movies under their belt, a TV show that has (so I’ve been told) gotten better, and with more amazing series coming (Agent Carter and the Netflix slate of Daredevil, Iron Fist and others). And what’s better? They all connect. You don’t need to follow the TV series to enjoy the films, but if you do? The whole thing lights up like a Christmas tree.

DC got off to a rough start with Man of Steel, seem intent to jam pack Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice with as many heroes as we can tolerate, and seem to be handicapping their growing slate of successful TV series (Arrow, Gotham, The Flash, and Constantine) by releasing films that completely disregard them.

What does it say to the fan of The Flash, who 4 seasons in will find that the guy on the big screen playing him has nothing to do with the one they love on the small screen? It tells the fan that they’re not considered. That they’re just another cog in the machine. A number to be reported on a conference call.

DC has an incredible history of amazing characters. Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman and their kind should make amazing movies. But they need passionate people supporting them.  Marvel Studios doesn’t have access to Spider-Man or the X-Men. Look at what they’ve accomplished.

DC can fight this war if they want. They just need to see where their advantage is. Until then? Marvel continues to reap the benefits of the world they’ve built.

'Avengers: Age of Ultron' Trailer Leaks, Gets Released, Astonishes

Ever since fans received their first taste of Avengers: Age of Ultron back at San Diego Comic Con 2014 in July, fans have wondered when any footage would leak.

Would we see a surprise trailer attached to Guardians of the Galaxy, a’la the teaser on Captain America: The First Avenger? Nope.

Would a fan sneak a camera into the New York Comic Con screening of that same San Diego Comic Con footage? Apparently not.

In something amazing in this day and age of constant leaks, whether from films or from the world of technology - Disney/Marvel Studios seemed to keep the footage under their control, with a planned official trailer premiere for Tuesday, October 28th, on ABC, during an airing of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

The world had other plans, however…

twitter.com/Marvel/st…

At about 7pm Eastern last night, a decent - but not high quality - version of the International trailer for Avengers: Age of Ultron hit the web. Quickly, Disney dispatched cease and desist notices to any and all websites hosting the pirated trailer.

But then…they did something incredibly forward for a major movie studio. They gave in and released the trailer (along with the above teaser poster, reminiscent of the original Avengers teaser poster) just under a week early.

www.youtube.com/watch 

Well folks, the Age of Ultron is here, and it looks fantastic.

Ultron, voiced wonderfully by James Spader, looks like a remarkable threat. The direction and composition looks worlds better than the first film (tip of the hat to the new DP, Ben Davis). The stakes look global - as opposed to the first, which focused on New York. The use of “I’ve Got No Strings” is remarkably effective and creepy. And…was that Andy Serkis? Who the hell is he playing?

Oh, and of course - OH MY GOD THE HULKBUSTER ARMOR IS FINALLY REAL.

It’s going to be a long six months until Age of Ultron hits.

You can speak to the burnout of all of the comic book movies that are come and gone, but this trailer speaks to an incredibly important key - good movies are good movies, regardless of the genre.

Avengers: Age of Ultron hits theaters April 24, 2015 internationally, and May 1, 2015 here in the USA.

Warner Bros. Announces A Full DC Comics Film Slate, But Can't Touch Marvel - Yet.

Earlier this week, the Internet was all abuzz, as Variety published some massive news for fans of the Marvel Studios movies, announcing that Robert Downey Jr. would be appending his deal with the studio to add another film beyond Avengers: Age of Ultron and The Avengers 3. However, it wouldn’t be a fourth Iron Man as everyone expected…it would instead be Captain America 3, as the film wing of Marvel Comics attempts to bring a version of the 2007 series Civil War to the big screen.

Understandably, die hard fans, both of the comics and films rejoiced, as did the bank account of the Downey family, as he’s walking away with $40 Million.

While the news has yet to be confirmed by Marvel themselves, we’re all generally running with this information as fact - similar to the delay between the trades confirming Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch’s appearance in the Avengers sequel, and Marvel’s official announcements. One could argue that this is precisely the type of announcement that could have been saved for, example, San Diego Comic Con 2015’s Marvel Studios panel - since the 2014 edition shows that while they may announce many release dates in advance, they wish to focus on what’s immediate as opposed to far away. Is that actually a solid plan? Look no further than yesterday’s announcement from Warner Brothers, unleashing their entire DC Comics Movie Universe film slate through 2020.

That’s right - after picking a batch of release dates earlier this year, Warner Brothers issued a press release announcing every single DC Comics film through the rest of the decade - along with dates for 3 more LEGO movies, and an entire Harry Potter prequel trilogy.

In case you missed it, the movies announced are…

I’d like to officially say at this point that I was wrong.

Last April, I took WB/DC to task in text (and I’m sure they cared!) for their seemingly half-assed efforts to push towards a DC Cinematic Universe. I wanted them to start announcing movies and dates and showing a plan.

Be careful what you wish for, right?

With some minor exceptions, such as the out of the blue Suicide Squad film (which I feel like is going to be based on the Batman related New 52 edition, not the classic 1980s series) and the inspired casting of Dwayne Johnson in Shazam, this feels like such a random mishmash of choices to make films.

Perhaps I over-estimate the minds at Marvel Studios, but it always strikes me that Kevin Feige and crew pick and choose each piece of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as if they’re putting together a jigsaw puzzle, deciding how each new element will add to what’s been presented before. Meanwhile, the Warner Bros/DC picks seem to be what happens when a kid is given an assortment of random LEGO pieces.

I don’t think the DC Universe will work with four films as done through the eyes of Zack Snyder (and yes, I enjoyed Man of Steel). I don’t think Cyborg is an interesting character that people will want to see. I don’t think that a solo Green Lantern film is a wise idea - even with the nine year buffer between this proposed film and the Ryan Reynolds bomb. Heck, announcing a brand new version of The Flash as the latest version is no more than two weeks old? That just puts a countdown clock on the TV version. Suddenly, Agents of SHIELD looks like a good idea…

I understand, competition is hard, and maybe Warner Brothers wanted to have a great showing to their shareholders as they start to make some very difficult financial cuts - but when you miss the opportunities to promote your films in the right ways (this would have been a killer farewell to New York by DC Comics at NYCC last weekend), you look like you’re just treading water.

All of that said - it’s early. We’ve had one film. Warner/DC could stick the landing. But as it stands, the war movie fans will care about will be between Iron Man and Captain America - not between Marvel and DC.

I know who I am - I’m going to be there for all of these movies day one, but as it stands, they feel like an obligation, a box being checked - not a moment of excitement. Make me wrong Warner Brothers.

The Difficulty of a Follow-Up - OR - Marvel Announces New 'Hawkeye' Series for 2015

Taking it in on a bleary-eyed Monday morning, the sum of the New York Comic Con weekend ended with not so many HUGE movie announcements (although, obviously, Tomorrowland’s reveal stole the show), but instead - a number of HUGE comic book announcements, almost all of which came from Marvel Comics. Appropriate, as they call NYC their home.

The announcements ranged from the incredible end game for Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers run - a multiverse spanning return for the Secret Wars; a big push on female creators and characters, including series for Spider-Gwen and Silk, plus a “Women of Marvel” month of covers; and no brainers such as a new Scott Lang focused Ant-Man series, just in time for the Paul Rudd starring movie adaptation.

But perhaps the biggest surprise was this - a brand new series for Hawkeye, starting in March 2015.

For those who have been out of the comics game, Hawkeye is currently one of the most beloved titles in comics. Written by Matt Fraction, with a rotating art team including David Aja and Annie Wu, Hawkeye has blown audiences away with its brilliant art and irreverent writing.

Hawkeye has earned countless Eisners (the comics equivalent of an Oscar), become somewhat of a Tumblr meme (the kids love the Hawkguy), and has become one of those series like a Bone, Saga, Sandman or Y: The Last Man which just serves as perfect gateway book for people who don’t really love comics. Simply put, each issue has felt like strategically packaged perfection - even with its somewhat erratic shipping schedule. Heck, the down-to-Earth approach for Hawkeye has even rejuvenated other Marvel series, with a number of characters getting similar off-the-wall, auteur based reboots, including Black Widow, The Punisher and Moon Knight.

The series is currently set to wrap up completely with Issue #22 in December of this year, and now Marvel has a rather difficult decision on their hands.

On one hand - Hawkeye is one of the first string Avengers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, spoken of in similar tones to Iron Man, Hulk, Black Widow and Captain America. They’d be crazy to not have a new Hawkeye series in stores for when Avengers: Age of Ultron hits theaters next year.

On the other - Hawkeye proved how great big two comics can be if they’re handled - well, anything but like a big two comic. Currently, many Marvel titles have brilliant creative teams…most of the time. Many titles get solicited with big time pairings of writer and artist, which are quickly changed after the first arc, as artists - providing more detail than ever - are shuffled behind the scenes to only doing the first arc and the third…or in some cases, replaced never to be seen again….except on covers. It’s made the process in falling in love with a series even harder - especially as solicitations can change up until release date. (David Brothers wrote a far better story than I could muster on it back in 2012.)

Despite all of this - however, Fraction’s Hawkeye was allowed to exist “as intended”. Issue release dates have slid, due to Aja’s intricate art, but brilliantly - as the story provided a shift to the West Coast - MICA-alum Annie Wu was brought in to handle the LA portion of the story, giving it an appropriate unique feel.  One can wonder if these delays and shifts added to Matt Fraction’s leaving of Marvel Comics, as he’s now purely independent, setting up shop at Image Comics for titles such as Sex Criminals and the forthcoming ODY-C - but the fact is, Marvel brilliantly let this team do what they do best: make great comics.

With this re-launch of Hawkeye in March 2015, Marvel has selected a brilliant team in writer Jeff Lemire and artist Ramon Perez. Lemire has been producing incredible work as an independent writer and artist (such as the Vertigo title Sweet Tooth, and indie books such as The Underwater Welder), and has proven himself an excellent hired gun over at DC Comics, where he lead the New 52 reboot of Animal Man to incredible heights. Ramon Perez may not be a name you’re familiar with, but you will be - especially if you read his beautiful adaptation of Jim Henson’s unproduced screenplay Tale of Sand.

Much like Fraction and Aja, these are picks of auteurs - incredible artists working in the comics medium, hopefully combining for greatness. The future looks great for Hawkeye under Lemire and Perez, but as a fan of what came before - I worry of the shadow they will be producing the book under.

This series will be launching with a new #1, a great sign as a fresh start, being allowed to develop in its own world. But as Lemire speaks in his interview with Comic Book Resources of reverence for what came before - he also speaks of using this series as a direct follow-up, continuing the tales of both Clint Barton and Kate Bishop.

I just hope that they aren’t left being a pale imitation, it’d be a horrible waste of incredible talents - and as we’ve seen with Brian Wood’s less-than-stellar taking of the reigns of Moon Knight after Warren Ellis left earlier this year, a poor continuation leaves fans with a bad taste in their mouths.  Or, in an even worse twist of fate - the first arc for Lemire and Perez blows us all away, but Perez gets bumped due to the length of time his art takes…and here comes Hawkeye Vol. 2…from Jeff Lemire and Greg Land.

Marvel’s playing with fire here - and come March 2015, we’ll see if this new era of Hawkeye burns brightly, or just leaves fans feeling burnt.

The First 'Tomorrowland' Teaser: WOW.

After months of teasing and silence, Disney has officially given fans across the globe their first look at the forthcoming film from director Brad Bird (The Incredibles) and writer Damon Lindelof (Lost) - Tomorrowland.

Much has been kept under wraps about the film. Heck, for a time, people thought Bird and Lindelof were working on a new Star Wars film. Instead, this is an all new sci-fi property, built around Walt Disney’s original concepts for Tomorrowland.

Revealed first during a panel at New York Comic Con yesterday (which came complete with a surprise George Clooney appearance!), here is your first look at the film.

www.youtube.com/watch

I’d go so far as to say that this is one of the most effective teasers I’ve ever seen. The movie has hints of Harry Potter with it’s entrance to a world only the “special” can see, and George Clooney at his most inviting - but how cool is it also that a large, original tentpole sci-fi film has a teenage girl as the lead?

I’m in love with the brief, fleeting glimpses of Tomorrowland itself, a beautiful future-by-way-of-the-1950’s world…complete with JETPACKS.

My brain cannot stop firing synapses of the incredible possibilities of this movie. And what’s better? They’ve barely shown me ANYTHING. The mystery box remains full of mystery, and I am very in.

Tomorrowland hits theaters on May 22, 2015.

On Pause For A Bit...

Hey guys! This week, I’m moving into a new apartment, which means my non-work hours are pretty much going to be packed…while packing.

In turn, Blast-O-Rama is gonna go quiet for about a week or so.

Be back as soon as I can, guys! Thanks!

The 'Deadpool' Movie Finally Is Moving Forward

Let it be known that sometimes, illegally leaking footage* to the Internet leads to good things.

After fans worldwide went nutty over leaked test footage for a Deadpool movie last July, it certainly seems like film executives were listening.

Why? Fox has announced that on February 12, 2016, a Deadpool movie will finally be released.

Director Tim Miller (who was involved with said footage) is still attached to the movie, while rumored star Ryan Reynolds - and the hoped for R rating - have yet to be confirmed.

Stay tuned, this one could get interesting.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Amazon's New Kindle Voyage Sure Is Purdy

Guys, I love my Kindle Paperwhite.

I probably don’t read on it nearly enough, but hands down, it’s the best E-Reader I’ve ever used.

Battery for days, a great backlight system, easy to read E-Ink screen…

…but what if they decided to make one even better?

I’m not really sure if it’s worth $200, but Amazon’s new Kindle Voyage is their attempt to perfect the E-Reader.

It’s got a higher resolution screen, it’s thinner and lighter than ever, easier “page presses”, an adaptive front light - hell, the screen has even been textured to feel like paper.

If you’re willing to pay the $80 difference, and really love to read - The Kindle Voyage may be the E-Reader for you.

Two Brand New 'Interstellar' Posters Take Us To The Stars

Hands down, my most anticipated film for the Fall is Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar.

Discuss the pros and cons of The Dark Knight Rises all you like (I’d be the first to admit it hasn’t aged great), there are few large scale filmmakers quite like him anymore, and to see his epic sized filmmaking imbued with a sense of urgency and optimism with the galaxy spanning Interstellar has me chomping at the bit to see more.

These new posters certainly don’t help.

The first (above), subverts the view we had of the official one-sheet, this time planting Matthew McConaughey’s Cooper firmly on Earth, gazing above.

The second (below), however, truly unleashes the scale of the film, with a look at a beautiful cosmic event.

I truly hope Interstellar is as beautiful as the trailers have made it feel. I’ll be sure to make the efforts to see it on as large a screen as I can.

Interstellar hits theaters November 7.

Source: Yahoo!, Wired

Who Ya Gonna Call? KRISPY KREME

Briefly: To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Ghostbusters, Krispy Kreme will be home to two special edition marshmallow filled donuts.

Available in Ghostbuster and Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man varieties, look for them at your local Krispy Kreme starting September 29.

Source: Variety

Mondo To Release Never Before Sold 'Shaun of the Dead' Score on Vinyl

This weekend marks the first ever MondoCon, a two day celebration of all things nerd culture, in Austin, TX.

Featuring Mondo’s eye for awesome content, not only will there be amazing panels and screenings, but also - naturally - some limited edition swag. I, of course, am very jealous of those who get to go.

Never the less, one of the coolest items was announced yesterday, a limited vinyl release of the score for Shaun of the Dead, as composed by Daniel Mudford & Pete Woodhead.

This marks the first time ever the score has been released, which is a shame, as I’ve felt it’s a rather underrated element in the cult-classic film.

Covered by the artwork by Jock which was also released as a poster, this is sure to be a coveted item for fans of the Cornetto Trilogy.

If you can’t make it to MondoCon, don’t worry, it’ll be available starting October 7 online. The tracklisting appears below.

Funko POP! Phones Home with New 'E.T.' Line

Due later this month, Funko proves again that there is no license they cannot make more adorable by placing it in their Pop! style, with a new E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial line.

Featuring E.T. himself, a Reese’s Piecesnondescript orange candy bag carrying Elliott, and a flower carrying version of Baby Drew Barrymore, these are the perfect gift for the Spielberg fanatic in your life. Check out all three figures below.

[gallery ids=“19574,19573,19572”]

Source: Funko

First4Figures Produces An Awesome Mega Man Statue!

While the price makes it for the richer fanboys in this world, First4Figures has put together a very very cool statue for fans of the classic video game franchise Mega Man.

Limited to a combined 1425 units world wide, the statue comes in both a standard ($200) and limited edition ($230), with the limited edition having the advantage of very very cool LED lighting.

Either way, it’s a perfect interpretation of how Mega Man appeared in most of the promotional art for the game. Maybe if this sells well enough, we can get a statue of the awkward US version from the game box of the original Mega Man!

Look for the statue to be available in the beginning of 2015, with pre-orders available now.

Source: First4Figures

'Skull Island' Nabs Loki and a King of Summer!

The surprise 2014 SDCC announcement of a King Kong-prequel, titled Skull Island from Legendary Pictures surprised many - especially since no one even knew such a thing was in production.

Well - the movie is officially moving forward, as a star and director have been signed.

Sure to excite fangirls everywhere, Loki himself, Tom Hiddleston (Thor: The Dark World) has joined the film as its lead.  Directing the film is a left-of-center choice, Jordan Vogt-Roberts. Vogt-Roberts put himself on the map last year with the great comedy The Kings of Summer, but clearly is on the radar of studios for bigger films, as he is directing a Metal Gear Solid adaptation for Sony. This is probably a similar move to Universal’s pick of Safety Not Guaranteed director Colin Trevorrow to take on Jurassic World. Have someone with chops with actors, and let the action be handled by a proper second unit.

Skull Island hits theaters on November 4, 2016.

Source: Deadline

Apatow Returns To TV: Netflix picks up Gillian Jacobs Starring 'Love'

Having made his name with the brilliant, before their time shows of Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared, Judd Apatow is returning to television with a brand new series for Netflix.

Titled Love, the series was co-created by Apatow, alongside Brooklyn Nine-Nine writer Lesley Arfin, and series star Paul Rust (I Love You Beth Cooper). Co-headlining with Rust will be Gillian Jacobs of Community fame.

The series “follows Gus (Rust) and Mickey (Jacobs) as they navigate the exhilaration and humiliations of intimacy, commitment, and other things they were hoping to avoid.” Or, your standard Apatow relationship exploration.

What makes this very interesting is that Netflix has already committed to two seasons - Season 1, running 10 episodes, and Season 2, running 12 episodes.

Jacobs will first return to the Yahoo! exclusive sixth season of Community, but Love looks to premiere in 2016.

Source: Deadline

BOURNE AGAIN: Damon & Greengrass to Re-Team in 2016

Very cool news coming from Deadline.com last night - Matt Damon (Elysium) and Paul Greengrass (Captain Phillips) will be re-teaming for another Bourne film.

This would mark the fourth Bourne film for Damon, and his third teaming with director Paul Greengrass, who directed The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatium previously.

Interestingly, the new series of Bourne films, which started with Jeremy Renner in 2012’s The Bourne Legacy will continue, with Renner and director Justin Lin (Fast Five) still signed. So now this franchise has become two.

Look for the new Damon/Greengrass Bourne flick on July 16, 2016.

Source: Deadline.

TONY STARK MADE A BOO-BOO: 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' Plot Synopsis Revealed

Disney has released the official plot synopsis for Avengers: Age of Ultron, the final part of Marvel Studios' Phase Two, and from the sounds of things - Ultron is entirely Tony’s fault.

Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron" stars Robert Downey Jr., who returns as Iron Man, along with Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk. Together with Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, and with the additional support of Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Cobie Smulders as Agent Maria Hill, the team must reassemble to defeat James Spader as Ultron, a terrifying technological villain hell-bent on human extinction. Along the way, they confront two mysterious and powerful newcomers, Wanda Maximoff, played by Elizabeth Olsen, and Pietro Maximoff, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and meet an old friend in a new form when Paul Bettany becomes Vision. Avengers: Age of Ultron is once again written by Joss Whedon, and hits theaters to a rabid audience on May 1, 2015.

ALL OUT WAR: The First Full Trailer for 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_Tsj_wTJkQ

I’m only slightly ashamed to admit how much I’ve enjoyed the Hunger Games franchise, especially when compared to the books. But as always, all things must come to an end.

LionsGate has released the first proper trailer for the first half of the final installment of the trilogy (how’s that for confusing?!), and as you can see JLaw and company are in a full on war with the Capital in this one.

Looks like a decent flick to me. What say you, gentle readers?

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 hits theaters on November 21.

The New EMPIRE Cover Has Me Excited For 'Interstellar'

Awesome UK magazine Empire is taking a good long look at Christopher Nolan’s latest movie, the space-exploring adventure Interstellar for its November issue.

They’re keeping mostly mum about what to expect the issue - with almost as much secrecy as the film - but they released the subscriber exclusive cover today, and I can’t stop looking at it.

Featuring lead character Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) on an alien planet, the image was apparently picked by Nolan. And it’s really really cool.

The November issue of Empire hits newsstands on September 25th, and we should expect to see the “proper” cover, early next week. Interstellar releases November 7.

Source: Empire.

Edit:  Apparently this image is also now serving as the official one-sheet poster for the film, below.

Daily Blast: September 12, 2014

Good morning and hello, Internet! The end of the week is finally here (YAY!) and so is your final Daily Blast of the week (BOO!).

What do we have on tap today? Let’s take a look…

At the top of the post: Here’s your final poster for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1. It’s a bummer, after a really great, unique campaign, the final poster sure does feel like the prior two…and probably the next one also.

  • Morgan Freeman has joined the cast of Ted 2, because of course he has.
  • Nintendo is entering the animation business! Pikmin Short Movie, an animated short directed by Shigeru Miyamoto, is set to premiere at October’s Tokyo International Film Festival.
  • Here’s your first look at the poster for Harmontown, the documentary that is equally about Community creator Dan Harmon, and his podcast tour in 2013.
  • In addition to Arrow, The Flash, and Constantine on the air, and Supergirl in the works, DC Comics/Warner Bros. Television are apparently working on a Titans show for TNT (Drama. Boom.)
  • The first episode of Agents of SHIELD this season will have a flashback to the early days of SHIELD, and TV Guide has a first look at the guest starring Haley Atwell, Neil McDonough and Kenneth Choi, appearing as Peggy Carter, Dum Dum Duggan and Jim Morita, respectively.
  • In addition to cross overs with Family Guy and Futurama this season, The Simpsons will cross over with their Tracey Ulman Show-era versions, in this year’s Treehouse of Horror episode.
  • Following in the hollowed footsteps of Typing of the Dead, Final Fantasy: Worldwide Words, a typing based Final Fantasy is due for iOS and Android this Fall.

www.youtube.com/watch

- Resident Evil fans get hyped: here’s a new trailer for 2015’s Resident Evil Revelations 2.

  • Wow. Enterbay is making a 1:6 Scale Jean-Claude Van Damme figure.
  • The NYCC 2014 exclusive Arkham Origins Deathstroke figure from Square-Enix is looking pretty damn awesome.
  • Japan keeps knocking this “weird food” thing out of the park. BEHOLD RAMEN DONUTS!
  • I briefly considered starting a blog this year to just eat/review ALL of the Pumpkin Foods. For my health, I chose not to, but I will DEFINITELY be trying these Pumpkin Spice Oreo’s when they launch later this month.

See you on Monday, nerds!

Daily Blast: September 10 and 11, 2014

Good morning and hello! Sorry for the missed edition yesterday. Real life happened.

Man oh man, I am tired today. Lots of Destiny playing last night. In case you’re wondering - I have a Level 8 Hunter. Very fun game so far - I especially love the social elements.

Anyway, that’s not what we’re here to discuss! We’re here to talk Nerdy News! And that’s what we’ll do! Because this! IS YOUR (Batman heavy) DAILY BLAST!

In today’s edition:

At the top of the post: Zack Snyder has released a photo of the new Batmobile from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, after Instagram photos leaked from the set. You can click it to view a WAY bigger version. It reminds me quite a bit of the new Batmobile in the Batman: Arkham Knight game.

  • Rumor has it that, inspired by the success of Guardians of the Galaxy, Warner Bros is now developing a movie based on DC Comics’ Legion of Superheroes.
  • In possible Ouroboros news: Sony is moving forward with 23 Jump Street. I kinda thought we said all we had to say about that with the end credits of 22 Jump Street?
  • Not sure how they’re going to sequelize this, but Now You See Me 2 is set for a June 10, 2016 release.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Jeff Goldblum does a beautiful rendition of the Jurassic Park theme in this video from Late Night with Seth Meyers.
  • HBO’s The Newsroom premieres its final, 6 episode season on November 9.
  • Apparently Sony’s working on an Internet TV service? And now it’s going to feature full fledged cable channels from Viacom? Here’s hoping this shakes up the whole monopoly of cable TV…
  • Before the Nintendo 3DS is replaced by The New Nintendo 3DS (really it’s name), there will be a few limited edition 3DS XLs coming, including this ugly NES variant.

- LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, like so many other games, is getting a DLC Season Pass. At least the bonus characters look pretty awesome. Sadly, I doubt Dark Knight Rises Bane will talk…

  • It looks like Microsoft may be buying Mojang, creators of the gaming monolith known as Minecraft for $2 Billion. Apparently, in the transition -  their founder, Notch, will leave. He’s always said $2 Billion was his number anyway.
  • Sherlock Holmes is looking way bishi in the new Ace Attorney game.
  • DC Comics has announced a Darwyn Cooke Variant Month for December, with all the covers drawn by the DC The New Frontier artist. I’m in love with these covers, and wish it were how DC Comics actually looked every month.
  • Peter Parker takes a job at the Jean Grey School when Spider-Man & The X-Men launches this December.
  • I kinda love how horrifying and adorable the new Batman: Arkham Asylum-styled Funko POP! figures are.
  • NECA has announced the latest series in their The Simpsons: 25 of the Greatest Guest Stars line, including: Buzz Aldrin, Tom Jones, Elvis Costello, Weird Al, and Aerosmith.
  • Threezero has posted more photos of their stunning Eddard Stark figure, from Game of Thrones.
  • Video of the end credits of the video game Destiny have hit the web, and with it, our first listen to the theme Paul McCartney recorded for the game, “Hope For The Future”.
  • Burger King Japan has made the burger of my nightmares, the Black Burger.

That’s all for today. Have a wonderful Thursday!

 

Apple Goes Bigger Than Ever During September 9th Press Conference

Folks, I’m an unabashed Apple fan.

Ever since I got my first iPod, I’ve been in love with the way they make products. My personal computer has been some variant of MacBook since 2007, and my phone an iPhone since the iPhone 3GS.

So - like many others - I watched Apple’s press conference yesterday, and while they introduced two great looking phones - and what could be a revolutionary payment system - I felt like the long anticipated Apple Watch didn’t really do it for me.

Let’s summarize what was shown, and my thoughts on each.

iPhone 6 & iPhone 6 Plus

As the Internet fortold, there are now two new members of the iPhone family - one with a 4.7" screen (a’la the Moto X), and another, the “iPhone 6 Plus”, with a 5.5" screen (a’la the LG G3). Ultimately, this is what you’d expect from a new iPhone - faster internals, thinner, lighter - but with the left field addition of a larger model, there are some interesting questions one has to ask. At least personally - as someone with an iPhone 5S and a getting long in the tooth iPad 3, I’d been considering upgrading my iPad to an iPad Mini in the future - should I now just condense into a bigger phone? This is the sort of fragmentation we’d never seen before from Apple, but caters to the current phone market. Honestly, either should be a great device, but it will be interesting to see which version sells more. Also interesting - the 32GB model is out, with the 3 variants now 16GB/64GB/128GB, making for the first 128GB iPhone. (Just as the iPod Classic gets phased out, no less…)

Apple Pay

This is actually - in my eyes - the most interesting bit of the Press Conference. Apple is, starting with the iPhone 6 (and…the other device I’m about to talk about) pushing NFC Payments. What this means is, roughly, you’ll be able to scan your credit cards/bank cards into your phone, and use your phone to pay for items. Meaning - no more wallet bulk. This - given the intense amount of retailers and banks they have supporting it - could be an absolute game changer for how we pay for things. Sure, Apple isn’t the first to do NFC, but they’re an 800 Pound Gorilla who can make other companies conform, and we’re seeing it with an impressive 220,000 stores ready to go with Apple Pay day one. Personally, I will wait and see how the privacy/security concerns pan out, but this could be the beginning of something new and big for Apple. Especially as they get a cut of each purchase.

Apple Watch

Revealed with Tim Cook bringing back the classic Steve Jobs line of “One More Thing…”, Apple finally gave the world what they’ve been expecting for some time - their first wearable device. Following in the footsteps of the AndroidWear push by Google (which, depending on which side of the spectrum you’re on, may have been inspired by rumors of Apple’s entry into the wearable space), the Apple Watch is designed as a wrist based device to connect you to your phone, handle payments, etc.  Unfortunately - that seems to be just about it. Similarly to the AndroidWear devices, I’ve yet to see a smartwatch - including Apple’s model - that has yet to address the reason of “Why?” With a specific focus on fitness, Apple could be crashing down on the Fitbits and Nike Fuels of the world - but with the incredible pricing, starting at $349 - I’m personally not seeing how the device will become as important or essential as a smartphone or tablet. And that goes for any smartwatch. Get the price into the $100-200 range, and we’ll talk…but until then, this is a rich man’s toy - and I can’t see myself ever needing one.

….also they gave away a U2 album

What did you think about Apple’s announcements yesterday? Will you be grabbing an iPhone 6? Rockin' the Apple Watch on your wrist? Sound off in the comments.

Daily Blast: September 9, 2014

Happy Tuesday! Happy Destiny Day (PSN: Blast-O-Rama)! Happy New Apple Thingy Day! Happy 15th Birthday to one of the best video game systems ever!

How are you? Hope it’s well. Never the less, it’s time for your favorite round up of all things nerdy across the web - your DAILY BLAST!

In today’s edition:

At the top of the post: That makes it clear, in the preview of October’s Thor #1, the oath on Mjolnir has changed forever! Or at least until Avengers: Age of Ultron hits in May 2015!

  • This early test footage from an unmade version of Who Framed Roger Rabbit (with Paul Reubens voicing Roger) is a really cool piece of movie history.
  • Netflix will be home to the next stand up special from former The Daily Show correspondent Wyatt Cenac, titled Wyatt Cenac: Brooklyn. Look for it on October 21st.

- Minority Report’s Television version is headed to pilot. Set after the 2002 Tom Cruise film, the movie teams a precog with a female detective. Together: they solve future crimes!

- Street Fighter II fans have their own meal now, as official “Dhalsim Curry” has been released in Japan. Word on the street is it’s very spicy.

- Batman: Arkham Knight has it’s release date, hitting PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 on June 2, 2015. In addition, two pricey special editions have been announced, a “Limited Edition” (including a cool steelbook and Batman statue), and a “Batmobile Edition” (same as the “Limited Edition”, but with a Batmobile instead of a Batman statue).

  • Love your DVR? Like really love your DVR? Perhaps the new TiVo Mega is your jam, recording three years of television over 26TB for the low low price of $5000.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • You can buy things through Twitter now. Congrats, we’ve hit peak lazy.
  • Amazon has announced a price drop for their Fire Phone to just 99 Cents on contract. That can’t be a bad sign at all!

Music

  • Weezer has released another full song off of their forthcoming album Everything Will Be Alright In The End  - here’s “Cleopatra”.

See you later today as we try to wrap up all the Apple announcements into a tight bow. If we can. Otherwise, see you tomorrow for another Daily Blast!

Daily Blast: September 8, 2014

Hello dear Internet friends, and a happy Monday to you! I hope you had an enjoyable weekend - I sure did, spending a solid Saturday at Baltimore Comic-Con, and catching up on some comics to read and video games to play.

We’re back with you as usual with your round up of the nerdy news worth knowing - the Daily Blast!

In today’s edition:

At the top of the post: That adorable plush Mega Drive (or as we know it in the US, the Sega Genesis) goes on sale at this year’s Tokyo Game Show. I sure hope it becomes available here in the States.

  • It opened over the weekend (and runs through September 27th), but after seeing this set of images from Gallery1988’s Joss Whedon themed art show, you’re going to want to make the trek to Los Angeles immediately.
  • Hope you like the Terminator reboot, Terminator Genisys (yes, that’s the real title) when it hits theaters next summer! Paramount has already set a second and third installment for May 19, 2017 and June 29, 2018 respectively.
  • It doesn’t have an official title yet, but the OTHER Walking Dead series has been given a pilot order by AMC. I think it’s almost a 100% given that this will be taken to series. The real question: Will Chris Hardwick get to host another after-show?

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Fox ADHD has returned with another one of their “Scientifically Accurate” animations, this time, addressing the 90’s classic series - Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers. This one gets just as weird as the rest.
  • I’m still confused as to how Nintendo’s going to make it work, but the rad looking box (in Japan at least) for the “New” Nintendo 3DS should help with sales. Maybe?
  • Mortal Kombat X is set for an April 14, 2015 release, and HELL YEAH GORO’S GONNA BE IN IT. But, sadly, as a pre-order only character. So far.
  • This sounds rad: developers WayForward (Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON’T KNOW!) are working on a 2D, Castlevania-esq game starring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Danger of the Ooze, look for it on the PS3, Xbox 360 and 3DS this Fall.
  • Of all companies, Red Bull is sponsoring a six part video series titled Diggin’ in the Carts, all about Japanese video game music. You really should check it out.
  • Want to buy Destiny, but don’t have a new gen system yet? Don’t worry: for a limited time, those who buy digital copies for the PS3 and 360 will get upgraded to a PS4 (for PS3 users) or Xbox One (for 360 users) digital copy for free!
  • Motorolla is taking control of its post Google future, unveiling a whole slue of new mobile devices, including new editions of the Moto X and Moto G, their stylish smartwatch the Moto 360, and the very Her-esq bluetooth ear piece known as the Moto Hint. Solid stuff, but will people buy?
  • This custom LEGO Ferris Bueller’s Day Off from Flickr user Etzel87 diorama rules so, so hard.

That’s it for your Monday! Have a great week, and we’ll see you back here on Tuesday for another Daily Blast!

An Attendee's Eye View of Baltimore Comic-Con 2014

[caption id=“attachment_19466” align=“aligncenter” width=“600”] Image Courtesy of Eric Mesa[/caption]

Disclaimer: In the interest of full disclosure, I attended Baltimore Comic-Con this year as a member of the press. In turn, my badge was comped. No other perks were provided by the convention to me.

For the third time this year (following the My Little Pony focused Brony Con, and the Anime loving Otakon), Baltimore was home to thousands of fanboys, fangirls and intensely costumed fans as the Baltimore Convention Center was home to the 15th Annual Baltimore Comic-Con.

Started in the year 2000 by local comics retailer, Marc Nathan, Baltimore Comic-Con is considered by many - including those vending - as one of the last “pure” comic book shows. The number of celebrities attending were minimal, and instead the focus was simply on pure funny books. The celebration of the 32 page monthly issues or 100+ page tomes that have come to life in record-setting films and fan-favorite TV shows were undeniably the focus of this show, as it has been from the first edition.

What made the 2014 edition of Baltimore Comic-Con edition so interesting, however, was one thing - scale.

For years, Baltimore Comic-Con could easily be seen as the “other” geek show for the Charm City area, hiding in the intense shadow of Otakon, the United States second largest Japanese animation convention, and the largest on the East Coast. In turn, Baltimore Comic-Con has been allowed to slowly grow, and flourish. I’ve attended roughly every year since 2007, and this was definitely the biggest yet, with the aisles filled and a dramatically increased number of vendors and artists selling. Having missed the 2013 edition, Baltimore Comic-Con 2014 felt like a convention of a dramatically larger scale - with both its pros and cons.

With the shift to the Pratt and Howard Street lobby (as opposed to the Charles Street lobby), Baltimore Comic-Con started to feel a bit closer to Otakon. The registration point was found at the top of a lengthy stairwell, the main show floor filling the same gargantuan halls filled by Otakon for their Dealers Room and Artist’s Alley respectively. There even seemed to be an increased amount of cosplayers.

It’s hard to begrudge Baltimore Comic-Con for its growth - but from my understanding in speaking to attendees and artist vendors, and based on some of my personal experiences - there are still some key issues to address.

1. Grabbing the Interest of Newer/Younger Fans: We’re in a very unique time for comics. While none of the titles I’m about to list currently represent the top 10 in comics, books such as Matt Fraction’s Hawkeye and Sex Criminals (and the Marvel ilk that seems to follow his tone, such as She-Hulk and Black Widow), the Boom Studios books such as Lumberjanes and Adventure Time, and DC’s forthcoming books seemingly designed to only grab these new fans like Gotham Academy and the Batgirl reboot, all have one thing in common. They’ve grabbed brand new readers attentions and gotten them into comics, something thought impossible for most of the 2000s.

Currently, the only conventions that seem to cater to their interest are shows such as NYC’s MOCCA, or Rockville’s SPX (coincidentally next weekend). While Baltimore Comic-Con DID have a significant and well attended presence from Boom! Comics, that seemed to be it from the “new crowd” of comics.

Perhaps this was an example of the show being hurt by Cincinnati Comic-Con occurring at the same time. A quick glance at the guest list for that show indicates that many of these hot talents were lost. Looking at the Baltimore Comic-Con guest list shows many legendary talents for sure, but not many with current hot books or significant buzz - besides say, Greg Capullo (current artist for Batman) and Mark Waid (writer of Daredevil).

2. The Entire Artist’s Alley Situation: The Artist’s Alley is always a difficult situation to address. On one hand, you wish to give artists who are looking to make a break or support themselves independently a showcase. On the other, at roughly every show, it feels like a gigantic meat market. This year was rougher than most, as with the Alley’s increased size, searching for specific artists was incredibly difficult due to a lack of signage or navigation, helping fans find their favorite creators. Instead, one was forced to navigate every single row to find the tables they were looking for.

Perhaps this increased foot traffic - as I did receive reports that traffic was at record levels for the Artist’s Alley section - but I could very easily see people becoming bothered with finding the proverbial needle in a haystack, and hitting their breaking point after the 50th loud shill from an artist who they’ve walked by. (Pro-Tip: Don’t yell about your comic to the people who walk by. Let them engage you. Anything else is tactless.)

Additionally, word came to me from multiple sources that even with increased foot traffic, sales were stagnant or below prior Baltimore Comic-Cons in the Artist’s Alley, indicating to me that something isn’t quite working for these hard working artists.

3. The Lack of “Events”: It’s no secret that the world of comics is built around two events: San Diego Comic Con and New York Comic Con. That said, as a staple of the industry you’d expect some sort of buzz to come out of the show. Even with a programming slate filled with panels hosted by Marvel and DC Comics talent, the largest announcement of the show came from Boom! Studios (a new Frank Cho title) - or by accident, from the mouth of Greg Capullo (the end of his run on Batman). What has made Baltimore Comic-Con a dead-zone for the big two? Heck, where were Image or Dark Horse?

Sure - fans had add-ons such as a VIP meet and greet on Friday night, or the ability to attend the Harvey Awards (which feels a bit like the Golden Globes of Comics, if the Eisner is the Oscar), but there seemed to be a lack of buzz coming out of the show. Even the much requested addition of a Friday open to the show seemed to fizzle out, with many attending (and vending) indicated to me that the day was “a waste”.

I realize, much of this write up has been negative, and I didn’t attend it to be. Instead, I feel like this year was the first time that Baltimore Comic-Con truly felt growing pains. Even with that, everywhere I looked, fans were smiling, and having a great time. Heck, I had a great time just walking the floor, something I haven’t been able to do for ages.

But as the nerd monolith of Otakon heads to DC in the next few years, Baltimore Comic-Con has an opportunity to step into some hefty shoes, becoming THE Baltimore event to attend. The show has had a wonderful mom-and-pop feel for years, but this is now the time to become one of the greats. I just hope they don’t let the opportunity pass them by.

Daily Blast: September 5, 2014

Hello and Happy Friday, folks! I hope you’re looking forward to the weekend as much as I am! Baltimore Comic-Con is here this weekend, so I’ll be covering that (look for my thoughts from the floor on Sunday), but before we get there…

It’s time for a Daily Blast! This is a big one today, and our first written with WordPress 4.0! Which reminds me, it’s time to find a more permanent skin for this site…

In today’s edition:

At the top of the post: These beautiful Star Wars prints come from artist Matt Ferguson, and are being offered as a timed release by Bottleneck Art Gallery. Buy them before 11:59pm on Sunday, September 7th, and they are yours!

  • San Francisco’s Spoke Art is putting on a VERY cool looking Stanley Kubrick themed art show, titled - simply - “Kubrick”, starting September 6th.
  • Katniss sure is looking dark and ready for war in her own poster for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • I am all about Starring Adam West, a documentary about the legendary Batman star.
  • Oh wow - the fantastic PlayStation 2 game Shadow of the Colossus is moving forward as a film at Sony, directed by Andres Muschietti (Mama). If done properly, this will be absolutely amazing.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • I’m still not sure about Horrible Bosses 2. What say you, dear readers?
  • If rumors are true, Supergirl will be the next DC Comics property to make the leap from the comic page to the small screen.
  • The Simpsons is going crossover crazy this Fall. We’ve got the Family Guy crossover to kick off the season, but November brings “Simpsorama”, colliding the worlds of The Simpsons and the too-good-for-this-world Futurama.
  • This stunning live-action trailer for Destiny comes from director Joseph Kosinski, of Tron Legacy and Oblivion fame, proving again - the dude makes pretty sci-fi.
  • Guess what? If you buy an Xbox One between September 7th and the 13th, you get one game - any game - free.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • I sure hope this trailer for Pokemon Alpha Sapphire/Omega Ruby sure gets you hyped to replay the same game again!

- Little Big Planet gets a free-to-play endless runner when Run SackBoy! Run! hits PS Vita, iOS and Android in October.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • The teaser trailer for Resident Evil Revelations 2 is really freaking weird.
  • Fireproof Games has announced that The Room Three, the third installment in the popular iOS puzzle game series, will hit in Spring 2015.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • As we look forward to Bungie’s Destiny on Tuesday, lets look back at the game that put them on the map, Halo, as it appeared when announced - as a Mac exclusive! - in 1999.
  • As all the big guys lay out their new phones ahead of Apple’s press conference on Tuesday, behold Microsoft’s new Lumia 830 and 730, which are all about takin' photos!
  • For all the eccentric millionaires reading Blast-O-Rama, I’ve found your new TV - Samsung’s 105-inch UHD TV, which BENDS. Who needs a curved TV?
  • Dyson says “SUCK IT, ROOMBA” with their first Robot Vacuum, titled the “360 Eye”.
  • Sennheiser’s going for the Beats market with their beautiful looking new Urbanite headphone series. They run about $260-$330, but damn if they aren’t stylish.
  • Marvel is producing the first Miracleman stories in over twenty years, with December’s Miracleman Annual #1, featuring a “lost” story by Grant Morrison and Joe Quesada, and a new story by the X-Statix team of Peter Milligan and Mike Allred.
  • Gail Simone (Batgirl) returns to the world of Catman with a new Secret Six series for DC Comics, launching in December. This marks the official return of the Secret Six, since DC’s “New 52” reboot in 2011.
  • In case you - like me - were looking forward to Marvel’s “Spider-Verse” event, bringing together every Spider-Man variant ever, get ready for a lot of reading, now that the official checklist is out. And this doesn’t even include the awesome looking Edge of Spider-Verse series.
  • It costs hundreds of dollars, but the new DeLorean Time Machine from Hot Toys is pure nerd perfection.
  • These Funko Pop! X-Men figures look amazing! How had Cyclops, Storm or Professor X never been made before?!
  • More Funko radness, as - of all things - Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox will be getting figures in Funko’s Legacy Line.
  • “minipops 67 [120.2][source field mix].” That’s the name of the first Aphex Twin release off of Syro, the electronic music maven’s first release in 13 years.
  • I considered putting this under tech, but…I think we all know where this belongs. KFC Japan is now in the computer accessory trade, giving away fried chicken mouses, fried chicken USB drives, and this amazing fried chicken keyboard (above).
  • Yep, more Japan weirdness. Take in the beautiful, Purple Sweet Potato Milkshake, coming to McDonald’s Japan later this month.

See you back here on Monday!

Daily Blast: September 4, 2014

Hello and welcome to your Thursday edition of the Daily Blast, the best roundup of all the nerdy news you need to know on the net!

In today’s edition:

At the top of the post: High-quality images of the forthcoming LEGO Ultimate Collector’s Series Slave 1, from Star Wars, have surfaced.

  • It’s on, folks! Dwayne Johnson has confirmed that he will be the villain Black Adam in Warner Bros. forthcoming Shazam! movie. The twist? It apparently won’t be a part of the forthcoming DC Movie Universe.
  • While Labor Day did not meet the quality of the rest of his films, I’m sure hoping that Jason Reitman’s Men, Women & Children turns out as good as it’s trailer did. At least it’s new poster (above) is pretty well done.
  • Margot Robbie, from The Wolf of Wall Street - which I still need to see - is currently in talks to star in the forthcoming film version of Ghost in the Shell.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • We get more Baymax fun in this new clip from Big Hero 6.
  • What’s weirder: That WB has green lit a CHiPS movie, or that Dax Shepard is the one writing, directing and starring in it?
  • The trailer for Angry Birds Transformers is as amazing as the idea is awful on paper.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Buying Destiny for your PS4? Me too! Here’s what we get exclusively.
  • The 5th expansion of the glorious card game Cards Against Humanity has arrived!
  • Samsung announced a bunch of new phones, tablets and smartwatches yesterday, including the absolutely surreal Galaxy Note Edge, which has a touchscreen that continues onto the side of the phablet.
  • Sony also unveiled quite a few new devices yesterday, including their new flagship phone, the Xperia Z3, which includes PlayStation remote play. Wow.
  • A 4D Batman Roller Coaster and an interactive Justice League ride are coming to Six Flags parks in Texas and St. Louis. I really need to get out to a theme park, it’s been too long.
  • Deadpool will be photobombing classic comic covers in Marvel’s latest batch of 75th Anniversary variant editions.
  • Bandai is celebrating 40 years of die-cast robots with their 40th Anniversary Robot line, including Mazinger Z, Aphrodite A, and Voltes V.
  • Hong Kong high-end figure designers threezero is teasing an amazing looking figure of Ned Stark from Game of Thrones.
  • The special edition of Aphex Twin’s new album Syro is pricey - over $400 - but damn if it isn’t pretty.

That’s it for today! See you tomorrow for your Friday Daily Blast!

Daily Blast: September 3, 2014

Hello and welcome to your Wednesday Daily Blast! Hope your week is going well.

In today’s edition:

At the top of the post: Released on Monday, this Simpsons inspired “Frink Laboratories” print by Dave Perillo is pretty awesome.

  • The cast of Disney’s Frozen will return in Frozen Fever, a short premiering in Spring 2015. According to Variety, the short is set during “Anna’s birthday and Elsa and Kristoff are determined to give her the best celebration ever, but Elsa’s icy powers may put more than just the party at risk."
  • Interesting, apparently Marvel Studios rejected James Gunn’s original idea for Stan Lee’s Guardians of the Galaxy cameo.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • A new trailer for Monsters: Dark Continent has hit the internet, and it looks far more action packed than Gareth Edwards' more contemplative original. Unless this is really just made up of the film’s climax.
  • If a list of newly registered domain names are any indication, Warner Bros has their next four DC Comics movies planned and ready to go.

- How To Train Your Dragon 3 is getting an extra year of training - the film will now be coming out on June 9, 2017. That reminds me, I still need to see the second one.

  • Sure to excite zombie heads all across the world, AMC has released the key art for The Walking Dead Season 5, which premieres this October.
  • Netflix keeps snapping ‘em up: Gotham will now be exclusive to Netflix, with the first season premiering on the streaming service just in time for the second season premiere. I guess if it gets a second season? And I wonder if this means it won’t be airing on Hulu at all. Weird.
  • Good news everyone! While it will not be a Flight of the Conchords sequel, Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie are working on a new HBO comedy series.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • This is pretty cool - someone re-did the opening credits of Game of Thrones in a Saul Bass-esq style!
  • With six days to go until the release of Bungie’s long awaited shooter, Destiny, they’ve paired with Google to bring you Destiny Planet View. Think Google Street View, for the planets of the game, and you’ll get it.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Looks like something else from PAX escaped us: here’s a new look at Mighty No. 9 gameplay from the show. I can’t wait to play it whenever it officially releases (I kickstarted this game).

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Get ready to throw down in a new Dead or Alive, as Dead or Alive 5: Last Round hits PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One in Spring 2015.
  • I feel it may be a little late, but Funko is releasing a new set of Thor movie inspired Pop! Vinyl figures this September, including this adorable Sif!
  • A year after the film’s release, NECA is still producing high-end action figures for Pacific Rim. Due this January, their next figure is of the Kaiju Otachi, and it is a large-scale boxed figure that will be limited to JUST ONE production run. Get it fast if you want it, kids!
  • TV On The Radio returns this Fall with a new album, Seeds, and they’ve released a lyric video for the first single, “Happy Idiot”. It’s a pretty good jam.
  • Faith No More has reunited and is working on a new album, their first since 1998, set for an April 2015 release. Look for the first single - titled “Motherfucker” - on November 28th.

Ta ta for now! See you tomorrow with another Daily Blast!

Daily Blast: September 2, 2014

Good morning, all! I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday weekend.

Mine was pretty good - got to kick back, relax, and enjoy some gaming (The Last of Us on the PS4) and movies (The One I Love, which I reviewed here).

Never the less, we are all back in the saddle today, including us, your pals at Blast-O-Rama as we embark on another…DAILY BLAST!

In today’s edition:

At the top of the post: Although I’m sure they’re expensive, these new WBR (World’s Best Robot) figures from 3A Toys look amazing!

  • In a classy move, the Academy has announced that filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki (Studio Ghibli) will be receiving a lifetime achievement Oscar at the 2015 ceremony. Miyazaki accepted the honor in his standard, stubborn way, saying: “Honestly, I don’t think there’s any need to give awards to people who have retired, but nonetheless, it is an honor.”
  • Once again attempting to turn a bad idea into a good one, filmmakers Phil Lord and Chris Miller (22 Jump Street) are producing a remake of the 1970’s superhero series The Greatest American Hero. They better not change that theme.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • In another great DC Nation’s short, we find out how awful it is to be Superman’s friend, through the eyes of Jimmy Olsen.
  • In a shocking turn of events NO ONE expected: People is reporting that The Tick live-action series will be returning on Amazon, complete with Patrick Warburton returning as the man in blue.
  • Friday morning, Nintendo hosted another streaming edition of Nintendo Direct. While many news bits leaked, the biggest was the announcement of the New Nintendo 3DS called…the New Nintendo 3DS. With a faster processor, ThinkBook-like analog nubbin and interchangeable faceplates, it hits Japan this Fall, but has no US or Europe release date. So far.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • PAX Prime was home to many announcements in gaming this weekend, including the latest from the world of Saints Row. In addition to a PS4/XBox One version of Saints Row IV, an expansion - titled Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell will hit in January. The trailer is above.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Also from PAX: DoubleFine revealed a gameplay trailer for this October’s Costume Quest 2. I’m hoping it’s as sublime as the first.
  • Even MORE PAX: Super Meat Boy developers Team Meat have announced their next game - an endless runner titled Super Meat Boy Forever.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Finally from PAX, an incredible looking trailer for Firewatch, the debut game from Campo Santo, a small indie developer including popular artist Olly Moss.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • That Resident Evil HD re-release is looking pretty darn good. Even if it’d be like, the 80th time I’ve played through the original.
  • Down goes a titan of the early-2000’s internet world: Microsoft has announced that they will be shutting down MSN Messenger. How much longer does AIM have for this world?
  • I honestly feel like the best part of Reddit is the AMA section, so you better believe I’m in love with Reddit’s new iOS app.
  • Of all places, Buzzfeed got the exclusive announcement that artist Jason Fabok (Batman Eternal) will be taking over the reigns of Justice League, starting with issue #36.

That’s it for today! See you on Wednesday!

The One I Love (2014): A Review

This past holiday weekend, I sat down and did something I don’t regularly get to do (but I should do more often), rent a movie off of Amazon and just lose myself between my couch and my HDTV.

The selection on Sunday night was The One I Love, a movie currently in select theaters, but rentable on Amazon and iTunes. The trailer grabbed me - as we featured in a Daily Blast - and I had heard great Sundance buzz on the film, and I’m pleased to say it was an absolute surprise.

The One I Love focuses on a young married couple - Ethan (Mark Duplass, who you probably recognize from a million and one indie films) and Sophie (Mad Men‘s Elisabeth Moss). They’ve hit a rough patch on their marriage, and have been seeking counseling from a couples therapist (a wonderful cameo from Ted Danson). Their sessions have been unproductive, so as a last ditch effort, the therapist sends them to a weekend retreat, to work on themselves and each other. To describe the rest would ruin the film for you, but not all is as it seems in this resort. Ethan and Sophie are forced to face the flaws in their relationship in ways they never expected, and their bond is tested in the most unique of ways.

Running a breezy 91 minutes, The One I Love marks the directorial debut of Charlie McDowell, and it is a confident first film, wonderfully shot and edited (with a rather unique score, provided by Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurrians). Duplass and Moss have tough roles here, but live up to the task of carrying the film with only their performances to support them. In lesser hands, the movie could feel cheesy, overdone or even ridiculous. With fantastic acting talent in Duplass and Moss, the film - and it’s unique situations - never feels out of the realm of believability.

Some how, by taking unique steps, The One I Love is one of the most refreshing, enjoyable and honest takes on romantic relationships I’ve ever seen, and I cannot encourage you view it more. Just don’t spoil it for anyone, yeah? Make an evening of it, and order it on VOD today.

Daily Blast: August 29, 2014

Holy crap, you guys. Remember when I complained about the seeming lack of news earlier this week?

Apparently Thursday was the dumping grounds, as I have a LOT of stuff for you today.

In your week ending edition of the Daily Blast, get ready for…

At the top of the post: That awesome Batman poster for New York Comic Con this year comes from the pen of Francis Manapul, the current artist (and co-writer) ruling it on Detective Comics right now. The New York Post has more.

  • Fresh off of the film’s very well regarded Venice Film Festival debut, the first trailer for Jon Stewart’s directorial debut, Rosewater has hit the web. This looks DAMN good.
  • Speaking of films that look DAMN GOOD, here’s the latest teaser trailer for Foxcatcher, starring Steve Carell and Channing Tatum.
  • So, Saw is 10 years old? Great, I’m closer to death than I thought. To celebrate - there will be a special Halloween re-release of the first film in theaters. If that’s your thing.
  • Pixar’s next short - premiering in front of screenings of Inside Out - is Lava, the story of a singing volcano. Yahoo! got an exclusive clip, and it looks absolutely delightful.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • A new trailer for Harmontown, the documentary about the tour of the podcast hosted by the Community and Rick and Morty creator, Dan Harmon, has hit the web.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • By the time Seventh Son hits theaters in February 2015, it will be on its third release date, having been pushed back multiple times since it completed filming in 2012. It looks awful.
  • Interesting - some theaters will be showing a unique, panoramic projected version of The Maze Runner when it hits theaters on September 19th.
  • Starting next week, Doctor Who has another companion - Danny Pink (Samuel Anderson), a fellow teacher/boyfriend of current companion Clara Oswald.
  • For a reason I’m not entirely sure of, Netflix has acquired exclusive streaming rights for The Blacklist for $2 Million an episode. I really didn’t get into the show, but clearly they see something I don’t.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Weirdly enough, Jimmy Kimmel Live! was host to a Friends reunion on Wednesday night. I’m not ashamed to admit how often the Super Art Fight crew watches Friends on the road.
  • HBO will be airing a documentary on street artist Banksy’s surprise NYC residency last year.
  • No word on a US release, but GAME and Nintendo’s UK Store will both be featuring exclusive Steelbook editions of Pokemon Alpha & Omega, when the game releases in November.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Sure, SquareEnix says that Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix has upgrades and improvements, but what’s really different? Let them show you in this new trailer.
  • I’m digging the new cover art for LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham.
  • Naughty Dog - creators of Crash Bandicoot, Uncharted, and The Last of Us, have some REALLY awesome swag for sale this weekend at PAX Prime 2014.
  • Harmonix, they of Rock Band fame, have returned with a surprise new musical/shooter hybrid called A City Sleeps. Looks really awesome!

- Assassin’s Creed Unity - the PS4/Xbox One AssCreed game - has been pushed to a November 11th release. Still no female characters.

  • The beautiful - and one time Xbox 360 exclusive - 2D indie platformer Dust: An Elysian Tail is coming to the PS4.
  • The classic arcade shooter Metal Slug 3 is making its way to the PS4, PS3 and Vita.
  • Batten down the hatches! Apple has announced a September 9th Special Event. Rumors of what will be unveiled include the final release dates of OSX Yosemite, iOS 8, the unveiling of the iPhone 6, the reveal of their wearable device, and ROBO STEVE JOBS.
  • On one hand, the Marvel Famous Firsts: 75th Anniversary Masterworks Slipcase Set is around $500. On the other, it’s FREAKING BEAUTIFUL. Worth it.
  • Wasting zero time with their new Star Wars license, Marvel has officially announced an oversized collection, titled Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Empire, the first of sure to be MANY volumes collecting Dark Horse’s comics from the past few decades.
  • We got a little more info on Japanese Batman, who we mentioned yesterday - turns out he’s a 41 year old welder by day, and he drives to work while dressed as Batman. I have to step up my commute.
  • Writer Matt Fraction’s new Image Comics book Ody-C, a gender swapped version of The Odyssey, with art by Christian Ward has an amazing looking prologue posted online.

- Comic Book Resources got a look at more of Marvel’s action figure cover variants for the month of October.

  • Be scared - GoodSmile has announced their next video game-based figma…Pyramid Head, from Silent Hill.
  • As is now becoming standard, Funko Pop! Vinyl figures for Big Hero 6 will be available this October, just ahead of the film’s November release. Honestly though, I think they lost something in Baymax’s design, as they “Popped” it.
  • You know what Pizza Hut’s Stuffed Crust Pizza has been missing? Bacon.
  • If you’ve ever wanted to make ice cream via a Kickball game - NOW IS THE TIME!
  • Hershey’s new logo looks like it’s got poop on it.

That’s it for today! See you on Monday!

Daily Blast: August 28, 2014

Almost there gang! It’s another Thursday as we head toward the end of the week - and with the dawn of the new day comes…a new DAILY BLAST!

In today’s edition of the Daily Blast:

At the top of the post: Behold! Our first look at Riley, the girl who’s emotions are personified in Pixar’s big release for next Summer - Inside Out.

  • Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy) is set for a long, long time. He’s signed on to play King Arthur in a forthcoming series of SIX movies by director Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes). Gutsy move to plot a series that long, but the real question to me is - how does this effect Pacific Rim 2!?!
  • I hope this is taken out of context, but apparently, an editorial edict for the forthcoming Warner Bros/DC Comics films is…“No Jokes”. Good idea booking Dwayne Johnson, then.
  • The first images of Feast, the short running before Disney’s Big Hero 6 have been revealed, showcasing it’s star - a Boston Terrier named Winston. I swear to God, if this dog dies…

- Empire has new images from Avengers: Age of Ultron. Nice coat, Hawkeye!

  • Another batch of posters for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 have been released, this time, focusing on the Rebel group. Lookin' good, Natalie Dormer. Lookin' good.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • I still feel like the fate of Studio Ghibli is up in the air, but if they’re really closing - Fox ADHD has put together an unexpectedly poignant farewell to the studio.

- Looks like Steve Carell (The Office) will be starring in a new Looney Toons live-action film, titled Acme. I sure hope it’s about the place where Wile E. Coyote gets all his cool shit.

  • Because nothing is allowed to die, Sony’s now looking into rebooting the Underworld franchise. Goddamnit.
  • Are you having fun yet? Starting Friday, Hulu will be, as they will officially start hosting the cult-comedy classic Party Down! I recommend the episode at Steve Gutenberg’s house.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Here’s a new trailer for The CW’s The Flash series. Looks fun, even if it’s not reinventing the wheel here.
  • FX has greenlit Baskets, a new series co-created by Louis CK and Zack Galifinakis, and starring Galifinakis as its lead, a man who strives to become a respected clown.
  • So, uh….apparently Hello Kitty is not a cat. And wasn’t, this entire time. She’s a British girl who wants friends. Thanks for that nightmarish correction, LA Times.
  • Fox has signed on to produce DeTour, a television series based on the real life story of Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo. The series will be a fictional take on Cuomo’s decision, at the height of Weezer’s fame, to quit music to pursue his degree at Harvard and then make the greatest album of all time which he hates
  • No big surprise, given that the game features all of their franchises, but Hiro and Baymax from Big Hero 6 will be joining the cast of Disney Infinity 2.0 in November.
  • Stopping Shirt-A-Day site designers in their tracks, Minecraft is getting an official Doctor Who DLC on the Xbox 360.

- Newsarama has a first-look at a few of Marvel’s Action Figure variant covers for the month of October.

  • To push the October release of Gotham Academy, writer Becky Cloonan has illustrated some really great character posters. I really hope this comic gets a chance to flourish.
  • IDW has announced a reboot of GI Joe for September - written by author Karen Traviss, this new version of the series sees the Joes lead by Scarlett, in a world where Cobra is now a peace-keeping force…but the battle goes on.

- Nerdist.com got an exclusive look at XKCD’s next book, a collection of the What If blog, run by creator Randall Monroe.

  • So, uh - there’s a guy riding around Japan dressed as Batman. Anyone notice the crime rate dropping around Nippon?
  • OK, OK. I know I push the #FastFoodArmsRace thing, but Arby’s has taken it too far. They now have the $10 Meat Mountain. And it’s literally just a pile of things they serve. AND! They only made it because of a poster and people asked to eat that pile of food. This is where we are now. Arby’s feels you are no better than a slapdash pile of things they have - and we demanded it.

See you tomorrow for the FINAL DAILY BLAST OF THE WEEK! (so sad.)

Daily Blast: August 27, 2014

Happy Wednesday folks! Excited to nab your comics for the week?

In today’s Daily Blast

At the top of the post: That’s one of the many unused Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) designs featured over at /Film. Goddamn that movie was almost UGLIER.

  • Of all duos, Charlie Day (Horrible Bosses) and Chris Hemsworth (Thor: The Dark World) are signed to star in the reboot of the Vacation series, which will also star Ed Helms. Talk about a weird mix of cast. So long as Charlie Day is yelling though, I’m in.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Technically, there is zero new footage in this new Interstellar trailer. Doesn’t stop me from re-watching it again and again, and NOR SHOULD IT STOP YOU, BECAUSE THIS IS AMERICA
  • While there will certainly be a tasteful screen commemorating the life of Sir Richard Attenborough in Jurassic World, it’s good to know his amazing role as John Hammond was going to be made immortal either way.
  • #Donald4Spiderman, finally - Donald Glover (Community) will be voicing Spider-Man, as he appears as the Ultimate Universe’s Miles Morales in a forthcoming episode of Ultimate Spider-Man: Web Warriors on Disney XD.
  • The CW has released a pretty decent new poster for The Flash. I’m not really into Arrow, but I’ll be damned if I’m not excited about this.
  • Oh god no. I KILLED YOU FULL HOUSE! I WATCHED YOU DIE! I WATCHED YOU DIE!
  • The Pokemon Company, alongside Namco’s Tekken team, have announced an arcade fighting game, starring Pokemon. Seriously. It’s called Pokken Tournament, and it’s a license to print goddamn money.

- LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham is officially set for a November 11, 2014 release.

  • Awesome! According to Nintendo, Mario Kart 8 is getting more racers, including characters from Animal Crossing, F-Zero, and of course - The Legend of Zelda!

- Comic Book Resources got a great interview with writer Matt Fraction as he’s ready to say farewell to his fan-favorite run on Hawkeye. Gonna miss that book something fierce.

  • Can these custom Destiny LEGO mini-figures (one for each class, Hunter, Titan and Warlock) become real? Guess it’s gonna take a LEGO Ideas push…
  • I realize, the style is the gimmick, but I think I’d like these Spider-Man themed Disney Vinylmation figures WAY more without the ears.
  • Another Hot Toys Iron Man 3 figure based on one of Tony’s many surplus armors, another chance to drool at the sure to be expensive shininess.
  • Not as good as the NECA ones from a few years back, but Playmates' Mirage Comic-styled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figures look pretty rad together, right?
  • Awesome nerdcore rapper (and, full disclosure, past-Super Art Fight musical guest) MC Frontalot has released a new album, designed for the kids. It’s called Question Bedtime, and it rules.

Smell you later, NERDS! See you TOMORROW!

Daily Blast: August 26, 2014

Hola! A very happy Tuesday to you! And we continue our week here with the most important of daily columns, the one and only Daily Blast, a distillation of all the nerdy news bits you may need to know!

On tap today: A spoliery new Guardians of the Galaxy toy, cats running a restaurant, JK Simmons yelling, and Amazon bought something that Google wanted.

All that and more - in today’s Daily Blast!

At the top of the post: Looks like Jeremy Renner may return as Hawkeye in Captain America 3

  • This new international trailer for Whiplash showcases a bit more of the extremes that JK Simmons goes to as a drum teacher. I’m very excited for this movie.
  • Mary Elizabeth Winstead is set to star in Bad Robot’s next big film, The Cellar. Deadline.com says that the movie is “about woman who wakes up underground after a terrible car accident and fears she’s been abducted. Her captor, a doomsday prepper, warns her that a terrible chemical attack has left the outside world uninhabitable but as tensions rise she decides she must escape regardless of the terrors that await outside.” Sounds pretty rad, right? This also serves as the debut feature from Dan Trachtenberg, whom you may remember as a part of the Totally Rad Show.
  • It’s never hit the quality of his prior shows, but maybe - just maybe - The Newsroom will be pretty good in its third and final season this fall, as teased above in this new ad.
  • A whole bunch of Paramount films may be making the jump to television, including an HBO series based on Shutter Island (which I hated, but many people enjoyed), and series based on the films Ghost, Narc, and most excitingly - The Truman Show.
  • There’s been a HUGE leak of Super Smash Bros information, and it includes a reveal of the entire roster for the forthcoming 3DS/Wii U title.
  • Despite rumors that Google would be purchasing the video game streaming giant, Amazon has announced their purchase of Twitch - to the tune of $970 Million.
  • Picking up where the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe left off (seriously, why isn’t that an iPad app?), this great Superhero Height Chart from HalloweenCostumes.com answers the debate of who the tallest and the smallest is in the Marvel U. [Click to enlarge!]
  • Marvel Select has released a surprise Spider-Man vs. Electro action figure two-pack. This is mostly worth referencing, as the Electro featured is the old school comic version, and it looks awesome!
  • Funko, by way of Marvel’s social media maven, Ryan Penagos has announced a Pop! Vinyl figure of Howard the Duck. Which has NOTHING to do with the post-credit’s scene from Guardians of the Galaxy, no sir!
  • Funko also announced a continuation of their mystery minis line, with a new Science Fiction line, including characters such as Rocketeer, Predator, ET and more!
  • This one is going to get confusing - Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar RodrÁ­guez-LÁ³pez, formally both of At the Drive-In and The Mars Volta, have a new band, called Antemasque. Their album drops this October. That said, it includes Flea and Dave Elitch—both of whom played with The Mars Volta - but this is NOT The Mars Volta. They swear. Hopefully, it’s better than the past few Mars Volta records.
  • Pizza Hut Japan has either lost it, or are a bunch of geniuses. They’ve launched Pizza Cat a (not) real restaurant completely staffed by kitties!

That’s it for today! See you tomorrow!

Daily Blast: August 25, 2014

Good morning and a happy Monday to you, dear reader!

I hope you had a great weekend! Evidently the entire world did, as it was a very quiet weekend for nerdy news, so - I’m sorry, but here’s a less stacked than usual Daily Blast for your Monday. I blame the Simpsons marathon.

I expect like, Episode VII to leak today or something, based on how quiet everything was. Never the less, enjoy, and read on.

At the top of the post: Amazingly, this story took two years to break. Apparently, during the filming of The Dark Knight Rises, Tom Hardy took it upon himself to crash a wedding while dressed as Bane. My wedding will - officially - never compare.

  • Thanks to the magic of Reddit, if you were looking for an official superhero movie scorecard, we have one in this great DC vs. Marvel infographic. You can click to make it all sorts of large!
  • This is clever - Super Smash Bros for the Nintendo 3DS will feature a special “sleep” mode, where the game will be paused, and your system can be closed, but you can still listen to the game’s soundtrack.

  • Capcom has opened a Teespring store to increase the funds going to the winners of their upcoming Capcom Pro Tour fighting game tournament series. The winners get more money, you get sweet shirts. Sounds pretty win-win, right?
  • I’d say this is a spoiler, but, almost everyone’s seen the movie already (nearing $500 Mil worldwide), so…here’s your look at the first official Baby Groot toy, coming from Funko! Needs more automated dancing, I feel.
  • Good job, Japan! A fast food restaurant in Japan is now officially combining two of the world’s greatest foods - a Hamburger and Spaghetti - in a combination they’re calling a Neapolitan Burger. Created by chef Tatsuya Kawagoe, it’ll run you $4.

See you tomorrow for more Daily Blast action!

Daily Blast: August 21st-22nd, 2014

Hello and Good Morning! Welcome to your Friday edition of the Daily Blast!

Sorry about missing yesterday, real life job duties called, and I was unable to get an article out, but hey! You get a double sized one today.

In today’s edition - amazing info filled posters, the coolest Adam West and Burt Ward toys ever, LEGO’s beautiful new headquarters, and one of my favorite actresses may be working with one of my favorite directors.

It’s all that and more, in today’s Daily Blast!

At the top of the post: Nerdist.com got an exclusive reveal of art from the forthcoming Info"¢Rama exhibit, featuring art collaborated upon by Tom Whalen and Kevin Tong - who you may remember some from amazing Mondo posters. This show is all about beautiful posters that also double as infographics. It’s a really stellar idea. Check it out!

  • At the least, it’s consistent: David Yates, who directed the final four Harry Potter films, has been signed to direct the JK Rowling-penned Harry Potter-psuedo-prequel, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them.

- HELL YES! Jennifer Lawrence is rumored to be in talks to star in Quentin Tarantino’s next, The Hateful Eight, due next year.

  • While it is not an X-Men movie, sadly, Jake Gyllenhaal’s next movie, Nightcrawler is looking damn good in its latest trailer.
  • Way to go China. Your newest idea to fight rampant piracy and to get people back into theaters is to not just encourage texting during the film, but also display the texts on screen. Fuck right off with that.
  • Of all the actors starring in a robot heavy sci-fi thriller, Antonio Banderas was not one I expected. But Automata looks pretty good!
  • Good lord. Exclusive prints, screenings of never before seen animated films, movies with lost scores, posters, an Iron Giant art show?! MondoCon really is designed for me. Shame I can’t find myself being in Austin, TX any time soon…
  • Shane Black (Iron Man 3) has been signed by Sony to direct The Destroyer, based on the long-running book series. If it doesn’t ring a bell, here, I’lll put it this way…REMO WILLIAMS IS GETTING A REBOOT, KIDS!

- Are you ready for pre-cog CSI? Minority Report is being developed into a TV series by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television production company.

  • Currenly only known as Game #4, this is the new game from The Behemoth, developers of the awesome Castle Crashers.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • OK Bungie, with every new Destiny trailer, you’re making the wait until September 9th even harder. Jerks.
  • CNN’s Anderson Cooper is officially a part of the Marvel Universe, as he will appear in November’s Black Widow #12. How Marvel is doing this, yet Time Warner (who owns CNN) hasn’t done this with DC Comics (who they also own) is beyond me.
  • Sure, they cost about $100 each, but aren’t these Japan-only Batman ‘66 styled Batman and Robin figures AWESOME?

 

  • The beautiful looking new animated film The Book of Life is getting some equally beautiful looking toys from Funko, including both Pop! Vinyls, and the more traditional Legacy figures (pictured).
  • The new LEGO headquarters is being built (a photo of the rendering above), and not only does it look freakin’ beautiful, but LEGO is also going to (of course) release a special set of it.
  • Mattel has announced the “Unleashed” Doomsday figure as the final installment of their long running, fan favorite DC Universe action figure line.
  • Turns out Square-Enix’s new Cloud figure has ALL OF THE SWORDS.
  • Not only has Aphex Twin confirmed the “deep web” reveal of his new album SYRO, but the press release is a beautiful, must-read mess of language.
  • Bad news: The New Weezer album, Everything Will Be Alright In The End has been pushed back a week to an October 7th release. Good news: The track list has been revealed including…a three song suite? LIKE A ROCK OPERA?! LIKE SONGS FROM THE BLACK HOLE?! Calm down, calm down…must not get excited for a post-Pinkerton Weezer album.

That’s it for this week! See you back here on Monday!

Daily Blast: August 20th, 2014

Happy Wednesday to you, dear readers! It’s time once again for your favorite round up of all things geek - the Daily Blast!

In today’s edition, we’ve got Marvel and DC movie news, a weird movie team-up, and a farewell to a great series of books. Read on and enjoy!

At the top of the post: There’s our first look at Paul Rudd as Scott Lang (who clearly has been through some shit) in Ant-Man, thanks to USA Today.

  • In a weird move - Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has confirmed himself as the star of Warner Bros/DC Comics’ Shazam. That said, he won’t confirm if he’s playing the lead hero, or the villain, Black Adam. Odd, right?

- Heads up, Cornetto fans! Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg are discussing a new movie together! Sure, it’s probably FAR from ready, but…they have a title!

www.youtube.com/watch

  • The first trailer for Jason Reitman’s next, Men, Women, and Children showcases how the movie focuses on how smartphones have changed our lives and relationships. Perhaps irreversibly?
  • Sad news for movie nerds everywhere (and Doug Benson fans) - the 2015 Edition of the Leonard Maltin Movie Guide will be its last. Pre-order yourself a piece of history.
  • Kevin Smith, Johnny Depp and their respective daughters, are teaming up for a new movie called Yoga Hosers, which is a follow up of sorts to Smith’s forthcoming Tusk. Who would’ve, in a million years, forseen that combo?

- Star Wars Rebels is officially set for an October 3rd Debut on Disney XD, with regular episodes starting on October 13th, with new episodes every Monday following.

  • Adrienne Palicki (Friday Night Lights) will be joining the cast of Agents of SHIELD as Mockingbird. This marks her second time playing a superheroine, her first was starring in the ill-fated Wonder Woman pilot.
  • Guillermo del Toro’s vampire opus The Strain has been renewed for a second season by FX.
  • Rumor has it that video game studio Activision is now looking into developing their own film studio. Call of Duty: The Movie anyone?
  • Taking things to the next logical level, Roku has teamed with TV set builders TCL and Hisense to make the first official Roku TVs. Personally, I continue to prefer a separate box, versus a Smart TV.

That’s all for today! See you tomorrow with a brand new Daily Blast!

Daily Blast: August 19th, 2014

www.youtube.com/watch

Good morning and hello, its time once again to get the low down on all things nerdy and awesome - it’s your Daily Blast!

That said, today’s a very special day for me, and you’ll understand why with the video at the top of the post, which I explain under the cut.

At the top of the post: See that? That’s the first episode of the long awaited Super Art Fight web show, which is hosted/commentated by me, alongside Ross Nover. We’ve been working on this show most of the year, so to see it finally live on is REALLY goddamned cool, and I hope that if you’re a follower of this site - and not necessarily one of Super Art Fight - this is what makes you cross the line into awesomeness. Enjoy!

  • The US teaser for Studio Ghibli’s The Tale of The Princess Kaguya has gone live, showcasing the film’s incredible visual style.

- /Film has an exclusive look at Gallery 1988’s next pop-culture art show, Squares 4 Squares, featuring the always fun art of Dave Perillo.

  • According to John Lithgow, the delayed Pixar film The Good Dinosaur has undergone a complete reimagining, since its push to a late 2015 release.
  • Sharlto Copley (District 9) will star as the lead character, Christian Walker, in the TV adaptation of the comic book Powers, premiering on Sony’s PlayStation Network.
  • In a twist I think no one expected, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost will reprise their roles from Shaun of the Dead in the forthcoming Phineas and Ferb Halloween Special.
  • Interested in Disney Infinity 2.0, but not so much into superheroes? Disney’s got a special package - with Merida and Stitch - just for you.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Bungie has released a new bit of footage from Destiny, showcasing the Venus locale, which I can’t wait to shoot up!

- ESC Toy, Dennaton Games, and Devolver Digital have combined forces to KickStart a high-end 1:6 scale figure of Jacket from the indie video game hit Hotline Miami.

  • Aphex Twin has officially announced a new album, SYRO, their first in 13 years, with some help from the “Deep Web”.

See you tomorrow! And watch yourself some Super Art Fight!

Daily Blast: August 18th, 2014

Hey folks! Did you miss me?

It’s good to be back from vacation. Seems like quite a few things happened while I’m gone, so today’s Daily Blast is all about hitting some of the high points I missed while I was gone, while maybe spotlighting some news you missed. Either way, it’s good to be back.

At the top of the post: Seems like IndieRevolver.com sure put themselves on the map this week, with a LOT of Star Wars: Episode VII leaks. I’ll spare you the super spoilery ones, but it looks like we’ve got a legit look at the new Stormtrooper helmets, which look DOPE AS HELL.

  • Sorry, large, populated cities! Godzilla 2, which will once again be directed by Gareth Edwards - after he finishes a Star Wars film - is now set for a June 8, 2018 release.
  • Want to see a trailer for Quentin Tarantino’s next movie, The Hateful Eight? Looks like you’ll have to go see Sin City: A Dame To Kill For. Suddenly, a reason to see that movie in theaters was found.

vimeo.com/103072343

- Twenty-Four by Thirty-Six is a forthcoming documentary ALL about the creation of movie posters, and if this teaser is any indication, it’s going to be a must watch.

  • In an awkward move, Warner Bros appears to be countering the box office failure of the GREAT Edge of Tomorrow by renaming it Live. Die. Repeat. for home video. Whatever works, I’m just gonna tell you to see it.
  • So, uh…Tom Hanks released a Typewriter app. Really.
  • Sneakily revealed last week as a demo named P.T., it looks like the next installment of Silent Hill will be co-directed by Guillermo del Toro and Hideo Kojima of Metal Gear Solid fame, and virtually star The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus as the lead.
  • It looks like Lintika Films is working on a stop-motion Usagi Yojimbo flick, and to get people excited, they released this AWESOME short film. I am in love with this.
  • Wow. The Hot Toys Arkham City styled Batman figure is pretty damn impressive.

Good to be back folks. Be back tomorrow with another Daily Blast, including some awesome Super Art Fight news!

I'm On Vacation!

Hey gang!

Just a heads up - I am on vacation, and in turn, Blast-O-Rama regular updates will be suspended until Monday, August 18th.

If MAJOR news breaks, I may drop in with some thoughts, but otherwise, I’ll be enjoying a rare bit of time off.

Stay awesome, readers!

Daily Blast: August 7th, 2014

Happy Thursday, folks! Yesterday was a pretty big day of nerd news, with a whopping NINE DC Comics movies dated - but not officially announced. Some other things happened as well, though, so I’ve gathered them up for you in the pool skimmer of the internet known simply as….the Daily Blast.

What do we have today?

More movie date changes, the awful title of the new Terminator film, an EVA the price of some people’s salaries, and the worst typo ever. Read on, gentle reader!

At the top of the post: Based on last week’s Hawkeye #19, geek shirt retailer WeLoveFine has a new Hawkeye shirt written in sign language, with the proceeds going to the Signing Time Foundation.

  • The new Terminator reboot has an official logo - and revised title. Once called Terminator: Genesis, they decided to get all hip for the kids, and it’s now…Terminator Genisys. Ugh.
  • I was pretty stoked with the Kickboxer remake when I had heard that UFC’s Georges St. Pierre and WWE’s Dave Bautista were going to be in it, but now I’m REALLY hyped - TONY JAA just joined the cast!

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Sure to be a fun extra on the eventual Guardians of the Galaxy Blu-Ray, here’s Chris Pratt giving you a tour of the Milano, his starship in the film.
  • A number of new character posters for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 have been released, featuring the residents of District 13.
  • In today’s Studio Ghibli updated, Hayao Miyazaki may be returning to direct an animated short. Is it a farewell? Or a new beginning for the studio?
  • Of all properties, the website WorldStarHipHop.com has been optioned for a movie by Paramount. I wonder then, if they will bootleg their own movie and post it with a giant watermark.
  • It looks like the Star Wars presence in Disney’s theme parks is about to ramp up BIG TIME.

- Kingsman: The Secret Service (based on Mark Millar’s The Secret Service) is moving back from it’s original September release date, to a February 13, 2015 release.

  • What movie is getting a Bollywood remake? If you said teen cancer drama The Fault in Our Stars, you get a gold star!
  • Rock star and comedic actress Carrie Brownstein (Portlandia) is writing her first film, an adaptation of the UK series Lost in Austen.
  • When in doubt, make a new CSI. In an announcement that sounds like a Funny or Die video, CBS has announced CSI: Cyber for 2015 debut, with James Van Der Beek starring.
  • Interesting, it looks like CBS has chosen James Corden (Doctor Who) as the replacement for Craig Ferguson. Not what I expected at all.
  • Speaking of talk shows, now that Chelsea Handler has left E!, they’re looking for a new talk show - and are moving forward with a pilot starring YouTube star Grace Helbig (who I’ve come to enjoy on her @Midnight appearances).
  • The awesome GTA-clone Sleeping Dogs will be getting an Xbox One/PS4 re-release this October, with all of the DLC in tow.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • At the end of this month, Mario Kart 8 will be getting classier, with free DLC cars from Mercedes-Benz. Seriously.
  • Classic RPG Dragon Quest IV has hit iPhones. Wait, I’m sorry, it’s actually Dargon Quest IV that has hit the iPhone. Dargon.
  • Only in Japan can you buy a 6-foot tall EVA Unit-01 from Evangelion for $18,000 from your local 7-Eleven. Why not here?
  • Here’s your first look at the box art for LEGO’s Ultimate Collector’s Set of the Tumbler from the most recent Batman films.

Be back tomorrow for your Friday Daily Blast! Enjoy your day!

Or Maybe Not: Warner Bros./DC Announces NINE Superhero Film Dates

That was fast.

No sooner can the nerds start debating Marvel vs. DC in the theatrical realm, than DC announces nine release dates for as yet untitled movies. Considering Marvel Studios did something similar just before Comic Con, I suppose this is the way things are now.

The dates in question:

Source: Variety

Warner Bros. Blinks: 'Batman v Superman' Moves to March 2016

In an absolutely unexpected move - and perhaps, a sign of the times - Warner Bros. Pictures has announced that Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice will be releasing earlier, moving up to March 25, 2016 from the original May 6, 2016 release date.

While fans may be excited to see the big DC Comics crossover movie hitting theaters two months early, this is a remarkable blow against the film - or at least the studio’s perception of it.

Previously, Batman v Superman was to open on May 6, 2016. This date was also selected by Marvel Studios to serve as the release date for Captain America 3, pitting two major superhero films against each other on the same weekend.  Perhaps because of the MASSIVE $94 million opening of Guardians of the Galaxy, featuring B-List Marvel heroes in a time during the summer where films typically do not open huge, Warner Bros has made the call to move away from a Marvel Studios film.

In some eyes, this may make fans and pundits alike question the quality of the film - surely, WB believes that the movie is better than Marvel’s offering, correct? But perhaps this is hedging a bet - director Zack Snyder has a great track record with March releases, having opened both 300 and Watchmen to great success in that month.

For whatever its worth, last week I took a poll of my friends, if they would be seeing Captain America 3 or Batman v. Superman first, and Captain America 3 won handedly.

Source: Variety

Daily Blast: August 6th, 2014

Hello and a very happy Wednesday to you, dear Blast-O-Rama readers!

I hope the day has greeted you well, and as all days go, a new Daily Blast is here!

It’s a jam-packed midweek edition, full of all sorts of big news.

What do we have today? A major Fall video game has been pushed back, a classic children’s novel is getting a Disney adaptation, EVERY MOVIE is getting extended editions, and it’s never been easier to order pizza. Get ready for that and more, in today’s Daily Blast!

At the top of the post: Shooting has completed for next Summer’s Jurassic World, so director Colin Trevorrow decided to take to Twitter to share some old bones.

  • Jennifer Lee, co-director on Frozen and writer on Wreck-It Ralph, will be writing a screen adaptation of the Madeleine L’Engle classic, A Wrinkle In Time for Disney.
  • The original UK version of The Office is getting a theatrical spin-off. Ricky Gervais will reprise his role as David Brent in the full-length feature Life on the Road. Set 15 years after the ground-breaking series, Life on the Road will see Brent attempt to live his rockstar dreams, while keeping a crummy sales gig.
  • Surprise, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is getting an extended edition on November 4th. Adding 25 minutes to an already over-long film, you can pre-order the 3 Disc 2D Blu-Ray and 5 Disc 3D Blu-Ray now at Amazon.com.
  • Speaking of extended movies - look for an extended cut of X-Men: Days of Future Past in 2015.
  • MTV’s Scream pilot has cast members set, none of which you’ve ever heard of. If their Teen Wolf series is any indication, expect Scream to somehow be a massive hit, with no one you know ever admitting to watching it.
  • Originally set for an October 21 release, Take-Two’s highly anticipated multiplayer monster shooter Evolve has been pushed back to February 10, 2015.
  • Two new Xbox One bundles are due to arrive soon: August brings an Xbox One with Madden 15 included, and October should bring the above White variant of the Xbox One, along with a free copy of Sunset Overdrive.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Don’t worry 360 and PS3 owners, you’ll get a new Assassin’s Creed game this year too! In addition to the current gen Assassin’s Creed Unity, UbiSoft has announced a November release for Assassin’s Creed Rogue, due out November 11th.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • In the forthcoming Mortal Kombat X, each character has 3 playing styles available. To demonstrate, NetherRealm Studios has released a video showing how these apply to the God of Thunder himself, Raiden.
  • Boom! Studios has officially announced the latest installment of their Adventure Time original graphic novel series. Titled Bitter Sweets, it re-teams writer Kate Leth and artist Zachary Sterling, who put together last year’s Seeing Red.
  • Pop Chart Lab has done it again. The latest in their series of amazing charts (which I hope to some day cover an office with), is “The Myriad Monikers of Gotham’s Villains 2.0”, which attempts to catalog all of Batman’s villains, infographic-style.
  • Guys, guess what’s coming back? If you said ELECTRIC FOOTBALL, you’re right! Really, the damn thing is coming back later this year in three field sizes.

- Funko’s releasing a second line of WWE Funko Pop! Vinyl figures, and I’m not sure which one is the best…Daniel Bryan with his crazy beard, or the pitch-perfect “Macho Man” Randy Savage…

  • Who says vinyl is dead? Not Jack White. His new album Lazaretto has sold 60,000 copies on vinyl, the most of any single release in 20 years.
  • In an unexpected pairing - DC Comics is re-designing the classic Monster Cereal mascots for General Mills this Halloween season. I expected more body armor.
  • All of human existence has lead to this moment - an app called Push for Pizza, which is simply a button that you tap, and BAM! Pizza. Seriously.

Now, if you excuse me, I’m gonna tap my way to some pizza. See you Thursday, nerds!

Daily Blast: August 5th, 2014

A good Tuesday to you! Hope you and yours are doing well this fine day.

As always, I’ve sailed the unruly seas of nerdy news to bring you the bits you need to know for the best damn daily roundup there is, the Daily Blast.

On the docket today: Bioshock’s going small, Resident Evil is getting more pretty, we’ve got the best gift for the Hulkamaniac in your life, True Detective Season 2 is heating up, and so so much more! Grab your gun! IT’S GO TIME!

At the top of the post: That awesome Voltron poster comes from the digital pen of the always colorful Signalnoise, who will be releasing it as a collaboration with Acidfree Gallery this Friday. You know you want one.

  • I’m pretty sure they missed some, but MTV did an admirable job of compiling the Easter Eggs found in every Marvel Cinematic Universe film to date (minus Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Guardians of the Galaxy, of course).

- Deadline.com has a long (kind of rambling) update on the Spider-Man franchise over at Sony. It sounds like we’ll be getting a female lead film (Spider-Woman? Black Cat?), and in something to make the kids of the 1990’s stoked - the Venom film is currently titled Venom Carnage.

  • I’m iffy on modern Tim Burton films, but with Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz as the leads, I kinda have to see Big Eyes, right?
  • Having started the Mondo poster empire and owning the coolest movie theaters on Earth, it only makes sense that the Alamo Drafthouse is now getting into the mural game, right?
  • Your latest Studio Ghibli rumor - Gaming and online video company Dwango is looking to purchase the company. We’ll see if any of these stories pan out.
  • The second season of HBO’s True Detective is getting closer, and in turn we’re getting some more casting rumors. In addition to last month’s Colin Farrell rumors, word is we may see Vince Vaughn join the show, alongside Mad Men’s Elisabeth Moss.
  • Just a bit past the film’s 10th Anniversary, Nickelodeon has given a direct-to-series order for a show based on the Jack Black film School of Rock. Apparently a broadway musical (BY ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER!) is coming as well. I’ve always considered that movie a guilty pleasure, but…damn.
  • I’ve never enjoyed the show, but I found myself intensely fascinated with the contract negotiations with the three lead stars of The Big Bang Theory. Apparently Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki (who will always be David from Roseanne to me) will be making $90 Million each for three more seasons of the “geek” sitcom. The mindblowing part? Even with that, Warner Bros stands to make $1 Billion profit on the show.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Having premiered last night online and on Disney XD, here’s a look at seven minutes from the forthcoming Star Wars Rebels.
  • The 2007 classic BioShock will be coming to iOS later this Summer. Available only for the most recent iDevices, it’s somewhat remarkable to see an Xbox 360 game running on people’s phones.
  • The collector’s edition of WWE 2K15 is ALL ABOUT the Hulkamaniacs, giving you an exclusive Funko Pop! Vinyl, box, and downloadable version of the legendary Hulk Hogan.
  • Celebrating the (almost!) 20th Anniversary of the game, Capcom has announced plans for an HD remake of the original Resident Evil. I’m hoping for non tank-like controls this time.
  • Speaking of gaming resurrections - SNK Playmore has confirmed that a new, 3D King of Fighters game is currently in development.
  • Adding to their lineup which includes Chris Hardwick’s Nerdist empire, Legendary has announced plans to purchase Felicia Day’s Geek and Sundry online network.
  • The official LEGO Simpsons house release is pretty great, but how amazing would a full LEGO Springfield be? LEGO Builder Pepa Quin lets us dream, with their ASTOUNDING build of the full city.
  • Behold! The most ADORABLE Solid Snake figure of ALL TIME! I never thought Metal Gear Solid could come off so cuddly.
  • It’s Sugar is teaming with Saturday Night Live to create a series of candies and novelty items celebrating the show’s 40th Anniversary, including (naturally) some Schweddy Balls.

Be back tomorrow with another roundup of the only news worth knowing. Have a great Tuesday!

Daily Blast: August 4th, 2014

Happy Monday everyone! How many times have you seen Guardians of the Galaxy so far?

Today is our first Daily Blast of August, and there’s some fun news bits that came out over a mostly quiet weekend.

What’s on tap? An amazing Marvel video montage, Saga artist Fiona Staples does Thor, and the first good idea I’ve heard for a new Ghostbusters yet. Click through to read on!

At the top of the post: Now that Guardians of the Galaxy is officially out, Marvel feels comfortable enough officially releasing an image of the mad titan Thanos from the film. Thanos is motion captured and voiced by Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men).

  • Speaking of Marvel, over the weekend, they officially released the video they used as the introduction to their SDCC 2014 panel, a brilliant montage of the 10 films that have made up the Marvel Cinematic Universe so far, from Iron Man in 2008, to this weekend’s Guardians of the Galaxy.
  • Nerds! Chill out. Studio Ghibli hasn’t closed yet. Despite posts all around the web this weekend, the truth is, they’ve suspended productions while they figure out their next step, now that Miyazaki has retired. This COULD be the end of the studio, or a new beginning. Stay tuned, and don’t pull out that Jump To Conclusions Mat.
  • On Friday, we gave you the release date for Jon Stewart’s Rosewater. Now, thanks to Entertainment Weekly, here’s some first look stills!
  • Two new posters for David Fincher’s adaptation of Gone Girl (due in October) have hit the web.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Just in time for the home video release of The Muppets Most Wanted (did anyone see this? I missed it.), a new Muppets series, titled Disney Drive-On with the Muppets has launched on YouTube.

- Bridesmaids director Paul Feig is being courted by Sony to direct a new Ghostbusters movie. Instead of a Ghostbusters 3, however, this would be a psuedo-reboot, featuring a new, all-female team of paranormal investigators. I really, really like this idea.

  • Looks like Universal is moving forward with a live-action film adaptation of Clifford: The Big Red Dog.
  • Will Ferrell is in talks to play Russ Meyer in Russ and Roger Go Beyond, a movie about the making of Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, which was written by Roger Ebert.
  • After Exodus: Gods and Kings, what’s next for legendary director Ridley Scott? He’ll be helming an adaptation of The Martian, due out in November 2015.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Man, people sure do take a made up sport from a book and film series seriously. At least that’s the idea behind the forthcoming documentary Mudbloods.
  • Were you chomping at the bit for a reboot to the Transporter franchise? Good news! The Transporter Legacy hits theaters in March 2015.
  • Bill Murray has joined the cast of Jon Favreau’s live-action version of The Jungle Book. He’ll be voicing Baloo the Bear.
  • Artist Fiona Staples (Saga) is contributing an AWESOME variant cover to November’s Thor #1.
  • I’m sure eccentric millionaires read this site, right? Because you’d have to be, to afford (and want to buy) this life-sized Iron Man Mark VII armor.

See you tomorrow, gang!

Daily Blast: August 1st, 2014

Happy August everyone!

Yes, I realize this means that Summer is starting to wind down, but at least we have one of the coolest movies of the year to see today, right? I mean - seriously, you’re all going to see Guardians of the Galaxy, right? Because WE loved it.

Anyway! In today’s week ending Daily Blast, we’ve got shark donuts, movie trailers, Garfunkel and Oates, and…somehow, a movie sequel I didn’t even realize was happening. How rare is THAT? Read on, gentle soul.

At the top of the post: Getting right ahead of the Guardians hype, Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow has tweeted a new image of Chris Pratt, who is also the lead in next summer’s Jurassic World.

  • Did you know they were doing a Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon sequel? I sure didn’t - but it’s going to star Harry Shum Jr. (Glee).

www.youtube.com/watch

  • On one hand, the designs for the CGI work in The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water are very nice. On the other, they’re freaky as hell in use. We’ll see if it’s a nightmare when it hits theaters in 2015.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Well, I’ve found the thing that would make me love Guardians of the Galaxy more. If it were all in LEGO.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • The new International trailer for Birdman underlines how much of a must-see it is this Fall. Goddamn it’s nice to see Michael Keaton acting more regularly again.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Amazingly, the teaser for this Christmas’ Into the Woods film adaptation manages to show absolutely zero singing. In it for Kendrick.
  • Jon Stewart’s directorial debut Rosewater is getting a late-Fall prestige release. The film, based on the true life story of journalist Maziar Bahari, who was tortured and interrogated over 118 days in Iran is due out on November 7.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Pierce Brosnan’s latest actioner, The November Man, looks like a fun - but mindless - romp.
  • Comedy music duo Garfunkel and Oates are getting their own show on IFC starting on August 7th, and the network has uploaded an episode of the show (titled - surprise, Garfunkel and Oates) to their YouTube page. Kate Micucci sure is adorable, right?
  • This is pretty rad - if you’re a fan of the anime One Piece, you can now board a real-life version of the Thousand Sunny in Times Square in Hong Kong.
  • Been wanting to play the latest version of Killer Instinct for the Xbox One, but weren’t too into the whole DLC/download new characters thing? Good news -  a retail version (the “Combo Breaker Pack”) will hit shelves on September 23 for $20.
  • Is your Funko Pop! collection taking up too much space? Perhaps you just want to take their figures on the go? GOOD NEWS! Funko will start releasing Pocket Pop! Keychains this Fall.
  • Current musical fav Lorde will be contributing a song to the soundtrack for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, as well as curating the film’s official soundtrack. I assume she creepily twisted her fingers into claws when she heard the news.
  • Well, that’s clever - to celebrate Discovery Channel’s Shark Week (starting Monday, August 4th), Dunkin Donuts will have a “Shark Bite” donut. Which looks like a lil' life preserver. Awwww.

That’s it for today! See you Monday. And go see Guardians already!

New 'Interstellar' Trailer Inspires Awe

www.youtube.com/watch

My biggest regret of my screening of Guardians of the Galaxy was that this trailer wasn’t attached to it.

With every new trailer for Interstellar it becomes more and more apparent that Christopher Nolan is working on something truly special, and it remains true with this latest clip.

I love the visions of space and other worlds shown here. I love the scope. And above all, I love the hope that radiates from it.

Interstellar hits theaters November 7. I’m now counting the days.

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014): A Review

Before the Marvel Studios credit even shows, Guardians of the Galaxy showcases one of the most heart-wrenching scenes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, paired with one of its most incredible images. From then forward, we are thrust into the trustworthy hands of director James Gunn (Super), who over the course of the next 122 minutes throws us into a film mashed up of the greatest parts of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, Blade Runner, Star Wars, 1980’s culture, superhero films….and it’s all matched with an absolutely incredible soundtrack full of some of the greatest songs of the 1970’s.

Gunn has assembled a ridiculous pastiche of pop culture touchstones and time-tested genre filmmaking, while creating something truly unique and original. An absolute late-Summer delight, I cannot recall the last time I’ve been so happy walking out of a movie theater.

The story of Star-Lord, a.k.a. Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) - a character who, don’t worry if you’ve never heard of him, even the other characters of this film haven’t - Guardians of the Galaxy is a DEEP cut in the Marvel Universe. While the concept of the team originally appeared in the late 1960’s, the film is based off of a newer version of the team who only came about in 2008 - making them some of the newest kids on the Marvel block. Even the most well-versed fans would be hard pressed to tell you who they are - they’ve never been best sellers, they’ve never been idols to millions. And it’s this almost underdog nature which personifies the film.

Quill is an absolute screw-up - an Earthling who was brought into space as a young child, after the death of his mother from cancer - he makes ends meet stealing things around the universe and selling them to the highest bidder. After an attempted heist of a particularly fancy orb goes awry, he finds himself in jail - and quickly fast friends with a gaggle of misfits, including the deadly assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana), the equally as deadly Drax the Destroyer (WWE’s Dave Bautista), and the just as deadly walking-talking raccoon and walking-talking tree duo of Rocket and Groot (the voices of Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel, respectively).  Of course, that orb has something very important in it (something longtime Marvel fans would be very excited to see), and this leads to this new group crossing path with a group of baddies (including Amistad’s Djimon Hounsou and Doctor Who’s Karen Gillan) lead by Kree alien Ronan the Accuser (a nearly unrecognizable Lee Pace).

You can figure out the beats and paces from here, I’m sure, but what makes the movie so remarkable is the film’s incredible heart. Every moment is full of incredible pep and energy, sometimes moving left when you expect it to move right, touched off with great humor and wonderful music selections. Gunn (who wrote and directed the film) is clearly having fun here. From his Troma roots to his wonderful independent films, you can tell he’s longed to make a movie like this - of a surreal, galaxy traveling family coming together to bring about mirth, mayhem, destruction and laughter - and Guardians of the Galaxy delivers non-stop.

Acting wise, this movie is Chris Pratt’s coming out party. Having made many including myself bowl over in laughter with his performance as Andy on Parks and Recreation, Guardians allows Pratt to take center stage as a lead hero, and holy hell is he ever ready for it. This is Bruce Willis in Die Hard level surprise. Saldana and Bautista do solid work as Gamora and Drax, with Bautista as the bigger surprise, but the real joy (besides Pratt) is in Rocket and Groot. A masterful mix of beautiful computer generated imagery and wonderful voice work (even if one guy only has to say three words…repeatedly), they truly stuck the landing here. You will fall in love with a tree and raccoon, and believe them to be as real as anything else on screen. It’s beautiful work that, if it doesn’t win a Special Effects Oscar, someone has lost their mind at the Academy. In 12 years we’ve gone from Gollum in The Two Towers to this, and virtual actors have never seemed so great as they do here.

With Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel finds themselves at the beginning of a new franchise (the movie thankfully indicates that they WILL return) - but just as well, finds themselves at the TENTH film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Few studios have had the track record that Marvel Studios has had (Pixar and Studio Ghibli may be the only two closest, I believe) - and while some bumpy roads may lie ahead, including the most anticipated sequel of all time - Marvel Studios is at the top of their game.

The risk paid off. A thief, two thugs, an assassin, and a maniac have been made icons in same molds of a scientist, a icon and a thunder god. Guardians of the Galaxy is pure genre joy. Highest possible recommendation - see it this weekend. Then listen to the soundtrack on Spotify. You’re going to want to again and again.

Post-credit notes: There is both a wonderful mid-credits gag, and a very funny post-credits tag (which might be the most ballsy thing Marvel Studios has done yet). Stick around through them.

Daily Blast: July 30th-31st, 2014

Happy Thursday, everyone!

Or, as I’m calling it - Happy Guardians of the Galaxy day everyone! Who else is going to the early screening tonight?

Sorry about missing the Daily Blast yesterday, I was under the weather, but today we’ve got a double-sized edition for you.

What’s on the docket? EA’s going subscription-based, Tarantino’s definitely doing a new movie in 2015, an awful Ninja Turtles poster, and a better look at the Deadpool test footage!

At the top of the post: This is rad - if you purchase Captain America: The Winter Soldier, you can order these adorable plushies!

  • In an unfortunate twist, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot is coming out on September 11th in Australia, and Paramount decided the above was the best poster to use. They’ve since apologized.

  • This Friday, August 1st, artist Joey Spiotto’s new gallery show, “Storytime: A Little Gallery Show” opens at Gallery1988 East. /Film has a look at the awesome Golden Book inspired art.

  • Found in the new issue of Empire, there’s now little question - Quentin Tarantino is doing The Hateful Eight, and it is coming in 2015.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • sigh So, Night at the Museum 3 is a thing.

vimeo.com/102096664

  • Here’s a cleaner version of that leaked Deadpool test footage. I still want this movie to become real.

  • If you’re a fan of the Dragonriders of Pern novels, good news! Warner Bros. has decided to buy the rights to the book series, which will undoubtedly lead to dozens of films.

  • This French poster for Big Hero 6 is a great look at the city of San Fransokyo.

  • Alex Kurtzman (Star Trek) will be directing The Mummy, the first part of the new connected Universal Monsters Movie Universe.
  • To celebrate this week’s The Last of Us re-release for the PS4, Sony decided to hold a live read of the games script, featuring the voice cast from the game. They also recorded it for internet posterity, so you can watch it above!

  • Sony is planning some awesome pre-order incentives for LittleBigPlanet 3 this fall, including the adorable plush Sackboy you see above. Is it enough to make you put the deposit down?

  • This sort of thing was inevitable - EA has announced “EA Access”, a Netflix-esq game subscription service, currently only available for the Xbox One. For $5 a month, you get access to a subset of EA’s library of games. Worth it to you? Or does it cheapen gaming as a whole?

www.youtube.com/watch

  • In a somewhat related story, Sony has announced the beginning of an Open Beta of their PlayStation Now streaming game service. They claim to also be looking into a subscription model for this.  Are we about to be without buying games?

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Sadly an Xbox exclusive for now, this trailer for the documentary Atari: Game Over looks pretty great.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Sony has announced their free games for PS Plus for August 2015 - it’s a pretty rad lineup, but I’m most excited for a free copy of Fez!
  • Up next in Kaiyodo’s RevolMini series (a 4" scaled version of their Revoltech line) - the Ninja from Metal Gear Solid!

  • Continuing their attempt to make POP! Vinyl figures of everything, look for Universal Monster figures from Funko in September.
  • This excites the hell out of me - TV on the Radio has announced a new album, Seeds for a Fall release.

Be back tomorrow for your Friday Daily Blast! And hopefully a Guardians of the Galaxy review too!

Daily Blast: July 29th, 2014

Happy Tuesday everyone, and welcome to your second Daily Blast for this final week of July.

It seems the world is still recovering from Comic Con, as the news world was pretty silent, but we’ve got some good stuff for you, including a brand new trailer for the final part of the Hobbit saga.

Read on and enjoy!

At the top of the post: Released alongside the new trailer, which you’ll see below, we’ve got a somewhat solemn new poster for The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. I like it, though.

  • Speaking of, here is that brand new trailer for The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. I think using the song from Return of the King is a cheap pull at the heartstrings, but goddamn it’s effective.

vimeo.com/101972457

  • Apparent test footage from a Deadpool movie leaked yesterday. Featuring Ryan Reynolds voicing the Merc with a Mouth…I really want this movie to be real. The Verge has more on it here.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Not safe for work, but safe for Lady Gaga, here’s your new red-band trailer for Sin City: A Dame To Kill For, or as I’ve been calling it, Sin City: The Sequel I Keep Forgetting Is Coming Out.

  • Remember that awesome sounding new King Kong movie, Skull Island we mentioned yesterday? Apparently it has yet to get a director. That said, Legendary is rumored to be in talks with Joe Cornish (Attack the Block) to direct. I would be totally for that!
  • With the first official trailer for [adult swim]’s new series Mike Tyson Mysteries, I’ve now run the gamut from having no idea what the show was, to being very confused by its existence, to now wanting to watch it VERY BADLY. Look for it in the Fall.

  • Love It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia? Me too! Now you can live life by way of Dee, Mac, Dennis, Frank and Charlie, as The Gang has written a self help book titled The 7 Secrets of Awakening the Highly Effective Four-Hour Giant, Today. Look for it early next year, but you can pre-order it today on Amazon.
  • Announced at SDCC, writer Mark Waid (Daredevil) will be putting together an ongoing SHIELD comic, starring Agent Coulson. The series will feature short, one to two comic length stories, each with different artists. Sounds like it has potential.

  • Spinning (heh) out of the “Spiderverse” event, Marvel has also announced a new ongoing Spider-Woman series, scripted by Dennis Hopeless (Avengers Arena) with art by Greg Land (Mighty Avengers).
  • I’m not sure the country of origin, but this figure of Iron Man’s Bleeding Edge armor by Sentinel sure looks nice. But it sure is PRICEY, too.

  • Showcased at SDCC this weekend, the real-life version of the forthcoming Hot Wheels Darth Vader car is way too cool.

That’s it for Tuesday! See you tomorrow with another Daily Blast! As always, if you have any tips, shoot an email to marty at blast-o-rama dot com!

Daily Blast: July 28th, 2014

Man, what a crazy weekend of news!

But, sadly, some San Diego Comic Con news fell through the cracks here - but don’t worry. To scoop it all up, we have this - your Monday Daily Blast! There’s lots of fun stuff to watch today.

At the top of the post: While the internet was all a flutter about the first look at Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, it turns out that DC Comics was hiding a new look at Ben Affleck’s Batman right in plain sight.

  • The first half of the end is almost here - at Midnight this morning, Lionsgate released the first teaser trailer for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1. It’s all the dystopian goodness you could want. Look for it on November 21.

  • Surprising audiences, Legendary revealed a brand new movie during their SDCC panel on Saturday afternoon - a new King Kong film, called Skull Island. The movie, set in the island where Kong is found, is set for a November 2016 release.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • I didn’t want to like Hot Tub Time Machine, but I did. It looks like Hot Tub Time Machine 2 may have the same effect on me this Christmas.

  • 3 weeks in advance, The Expendables 3 has leaked to the internet in near perfect DVD quality. That’s got to hurt. But it’s lead to hilarity like this, so…win-win?

  • He may be gone from Ant-Man, but he still loves bugs: Edgar Wright is already lining up more projects. In addition to the new original film Baby Driver, Wright has signed on to direct an adaptation of Grasshopper Jungle, a coming-of-age/giant bug invasion novel. Yeah. Really.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Kevin Smith returns to film this September with Tusk, a REALLY weird looking horror film. Check out the first trailer above.

  • GOOD NEWS EVERYONE: Despite his swearing up and down that he wouldn’t, Quentin Tarantino announced at SDCC that he WILL, in fact, be directing his leaked script, The Hateful Eight. This marks QT’s second western, following 2012’s Django Unchained.
  • As promised, the Blu-Ray release of the 1960’s Batman television series was announced in full at SDCC this weekend. The set looks great (shown above), but personally, I’d love a cheaper version without the trinkets. Either way, you can pre-order it now for a November 11 release.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Five minutes of clips from this Fall’s The Simpsons/Family Guy crossover have hit the web. And it…doesn’t look awful? Look for it on September 28.
  • LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham got a good long look at SDCC this year, and of course, that means…a new trailer!

  • Telltale Games are sure to have delighted fans with this announcement - their super popular The Walking Dead adventure game series will be returning for a third season.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • In the new trailer for this October’s Alien: Isolation, we get a look at the sadly, pre-order only DLC featuring the original cast of Alien. It looks pretty rad. But holy hell, Yaphet Kotto looks like shit.
  • Did you know that this year marks 30 years of Transformers? More importantly, did you know it marks TWENTY years since the PlayStation debuted? Now that you feel old, get ready to pay for it - Takara Tomy is working on a special edition Optimus Prime that turns into a PlayStation 1 for release early next year.

SDCC 2014: 'Mad Max: Fury Road' Footage Kicks You Right In The Ass

www.youtube.com/watch

While the spotlight was on forthcoming DC and Marvel based superhero films, arguably the most talked about presentation at Comic Con yesterday was Warner Bros forthcoming Mad Max: Fury Road.

The first film in the Mad Max franchise in nearly 30 years, Mel Gibson has been replaced by Tom Hardy (Inception), and a shortened version of the footage screened for con goers has been officially released.

In a word, this footage is incredibly badass. From insane car racing action to a post-apocalyptic Charlize Theron, Mad Max: Fury Road has something for everyone, and has now become one of my most anticipated films of Summer 2015.

Mad Max: Fury Road hits theaters on May 15, 2015.

SDCC 2014: Marvel Announces 'Star Wars' Comics With AWESOME Creative Teams

After 20 years with Dark Horse, the Star Wars comics are returning to Marvel this January…which makes sense, considering they’re both owned by the same mouse now. At SDCC yesterday, during the “Cup O' Joe” panel, hosted by Marvel head Joe Quesada, Marvel officially announced its first three titles featuring that galaxy far, far away. January 2015 brings the ongoing Star Wars series, written by Jason Aaron (Wolverine & The X-Men) with art by John Cassiday (Astonishing X-Men), the first art from which is above. Feburary 2015 brings an ongoing Darth Vader title, scripted by Kieron Gillen (Young Avengers) and drawn by Salvador Larroca (Invincible Iron Man). Last, but far from least, is a Princess Leia mini-series, arriving in March 2015, with story by Mark Waid (Daredevil) and art by Terry Dodson (Harley Quinn). As you can see - Marvel is going all out with this franchise, and I’m pretty confident that these will not be the only three series to come from the House of Ideas.

SDCC 2014: 'Godzilla 2' Announced, With Gareth Edwards Returning As Director

During yesterday’s Legendary Pictures panel, fans were delighted by a video package announcing that, due to the success of this summer’s American Godzilla reboot (which we loved), Godzilla 2 is officially in production.

The best parts of the announcement?

Gareth Edwards (Monsters) will return as director, after helming the 2016 Star Wars extended universe film he is currently working on - and, perhaps more importantly, Godzilla 2 will bring more classic Kaiju to the series, as Mothra, Ghidorah and Rodan were teased.

No release date is set for Godzilla 2 at this time, but I’d guess something in the 2018 timeframe.

SDCC 2014: 'Guardians of the Galaxy 2' Set For July 2017 Release

After a relatively subdued - compared to the rumors at least - Marvel Studios panel which saw most of the casts of Ant-Man and Avengers: Age of Ultron appear, plus awesome footage screened from each, the one new reveal hit the audience.

Despite being about a week out from the release of Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel has staked out a date Guardians of the Galaxy 2 - July 28, 2017.

Writer/director James Gunn (Super) will be returning for this film, as will, presumably the rest of the cast given Marvel’s proponency to sign their casts up for multiple films.

This also reveals one of the many unknown films given release dates over the last week by Marvel, giving the superhero studio a slate through 2019.

SDCC 2014: Wonder Woman from 'Batman v Superman' Revealed!

Currently going on as I type, the Warner Bros panel at SDCC 2014 is full of twists, turns and surprises.

The panel kicked off with surprise appearances by the director and stars of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - Zack Snyder, Ben Affleck (Batman), Henry Cavill (Superman) and Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman).

In addition to showing some footage which sounded appropriately Dark Knight Returns-esq, Snyder took to Twitter to reveal, finally, how Gadot will appear as the third part of the DC Trinity - Wonder Woman.

You can see her above, and I can’t argue, it looks good. The colorful tones are definitely muted, more gold than her standard red, white and blue - but she fits into the new theatrical DC Universe, if not also appearing a bit 300-esq.

I like it.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice hits theaters on May 6, 2016.

SDCC 2014: 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' Concept Art Revealed

As we discussed earlier this week in the Daily Blast, Marvel has been giving out concept art posters from Avengers: Age of Ultron at their booth at Comic-Con International this weekend.

Today brings the release of the final two posters - Hulk and Thor - and with the release, we can now see that the image combined makes one amazing piece of Avengers vs. Ultron concept art, complete with a sneaky peak at Vision.

You can click the above image to make it larger, and see all the fun little details.

I’d imagine we’ll be seeing more from Avengers: Age of Ultron at tonight’s Marvel Studios panel. So, stay tuned.

Avengers: Age of Ultron hits theaters on May 1, 2015.

Daily Blast: July 24th, 2014

Ladies and Gentleman, Comic Con International has kicked off, with Preview Night in the books, and a LOT of news dropping.

I can already tell that talking about Mondo’s posters is going to be a wreck.

To be honest, I’m writing this on Wednesday night for your Thursday morning reading, so I feel like some big news will have already dropped that I’ve missed, but I promise, I’m doing my best! This convention weekend is CRAZY.

READ ON FOR THE AWESOME!

At the top of the post: Geek worries be damned, Marvel Studios is moving forward with promoting Ant-Man, with the above SDCC 2014 giveaway poster, which is from concept art from the film. Entertainment Weekly got the exclusive reveal.

  • In addition to that Ant-Man poster, Marvel will also be giving out concept art posters from Avengers: Age of Ultron to lucky con goers.
  • sigh Pirates of the Caribbean 5 has been given a July 7th, 2017 release date.
  • Sony has changed their Spider-Plans. The Amazing Spider-Man 3 has been moved from its original June 10, 2016 date (now taken by the Uncharted adaptation) to a to be announced date in 2018. Concurrently, the Sinister Six movie is now set for a November 11, 2016 release.
  • Following the change of plans from Sony (literally just hours after the announcement), Marvel Studios has announced an untitled movie for May 4, 2018 - the former release date of The Amazing Spider-Man 4. It’s getting personal!
  • While currently only signed on for Avengers 2 and Avengers 3, surprise! Robert Downey Jr. is interested in doing Iron Man 4.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • The first trailer for Nightcrawler makes it look like some of Jake Gyllenhall’s most inspired work yet.
  • Warner Bros. has released the first poster for The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. All I can say is: HELL YEAH!
  • The Comic Con poster for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 is pretty rad.
  • Also awesome? The first official poster for Mad Max: Fury Road, available this weekend at SDCC.

- Entertainment Weekly was the home to this reveal of Colton Haynes in full Arsenal gear from Arrow Season 3.

  • I guess Disney/Marvel is expecting great things from Guardians of the Galaxy, as they’ll be getting their own Disney Infinity 2.0 expansion this Fall.
  • Curses! Looks like Gamestop has nabbed some exclusive Batman: Arkham Knight storyline content, where you play as the vigilante Red Hood.
  • The slicing and dicing Samurai Warriors franchise will make its way to the PS4 this October. Samurai Warriors 4 will hit the shelves with a “Special Anime Pack” edition this Fall.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • The mad chill Hohokum hits PSN on August 12th. It looks to be a nice reprieve from the games about blowing shit up.
  • Mondo has announced a Batman 75 Gallery show, to be held in Austin, Texas starting October 24th.
  • Following from this week’s announcement, Dark Horse has released the first teaser image from next May’s Fight Club 2 comic series.
  • Want to actually - you know - READ some comics during SDCC 2014? Marvel’s running a special on their Marvel Unlimited online comic service. You can get a month of service for just 99 cents!
  • IDW has announced a new series based on the popular BBC America show Orphan Black.
  • As expected, Image Comics' Image Expo brought some major creator owned comic announcements to the eve of SDCC 2014, including new comics from superstars such as Rick Remainder, Jeff Lemire, Warren Ellis and Kurt Busiek.
  • One of LEGO’s giveaways at Comic Con this year? The surreal Batman from Zur-En-Arrh, most recently seen in Grant Morrison’s Batman RIP storyline.
  • Speaking of LEGO - Green Lantern will be getting his own LEGO set in 2015, although with Space Batman, it’s technically a LEGO Batman 3 set.
  • Tamashii Nations has announced a Luigi figure to go alongside the awesome Mario figure they released earlier this year. There will also be a new accessories pack, so you can make awesome layouts like the one shown above.
  • Hot Toys has a lot of new surprises in store. Let’s see, we’ve got the Back to the Future Marty McFly, with a FREAKY good sculpt…
  • …the surprise reveal of their first figure from the Transformers franchise, Optimus Prime
  • …the official details on their film accurate version of Star-Lord from Guardians of the Galaxy
  • …and last, but far from least, word that they will be making figures for Star Wars Episodes I-VII.
  • NECA Toys has announced a line of figures based on the Robocop vs. Terminator video game.
  • It appears that Medicom’s MAFEX 6" figure line will be expanding with an updated version of Batman from The Dark Knight Rises and a high-end replica of the Batpod.

Daily Blast: July 23rd, 2014

The news flowed free over the past 24 hours, but don’t worry, we’re here to bottle it fresh from the stream.

That’s right kids…it’s time for another Daily Blast!

IN TODAY’S EDITION: LEGO Batmen! Cheap Batmen! High End Batmen! Patton Oswalt’s got a new book and even more!

Steel your nerves, and READ ON!

At the top of the post: Complex got the exclusive reveal for what is arguably the coolest SDCC 2014 exclusive -  a 1966 Styled LEGO Batmobile set. $40 for those at the show, countless more dollars for chumps like me looking on eBay.

  • When Adam Sandler and Peter Dinklage battle video game characters in Pixels, who will they battle? All the classics - Donkey Kong, Pac Man, Centipede and more!
  • Edgar Wright may no longer be directing Ant-Man, but don’t worry, he’s got a new original film on the way. Wright has closed a deal to direct Baby Driver, an original film described as “a collision of crime, action, music and sound.”
  • Sony Pictures Animation is teaming with Will Ferrell and Adam McKay’s Gary Sanchez Productions for a movie reboot of classic TV series…Manimal. Really.
  • That’s pretty rad - one of the Guardians of the Galaxy posters created by the Poster Posse collective has been selected by Marvel to be an SDCC 2014 Giveaway! Congrats to artist Matt Needle.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • The trailer for Studio Ghibli’s next, When Marnie Was There has all the makings of another animated masterpiece.
  • This is our first look at Agent Locke (Mike Colter, Zero Dark Thirty), the lead character in Microsoft’s TV series Halo: Nightfall, based on the first-person shooter games. Apparently, he’ll be popping up in the Halo 5 game as well.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Just in time for the big comic book thingy, Lucasfilm and Disney have released an extended trailer for the new Star Wars Rebels cartoon. It’s definitely feeling like a Clone Wars sequel.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • This amused me. Apparently, if you cut off Steve Harvey, you can knock out an episode of Family Feud in 3 minutes.
  • EA and DICE have announced that the police squad inspired Battlefield Hardline is being pushed into 2015, as opposed to its planned October 2014 release.
  • Disney Infinity 2.0 will be getting a PlayStation exclusive Collector’s Edition. In related news, I still am struggling to keep my defenses up against this game. (You just KNOW 3.0 is Star Wars…)
  • Shooting up high on my list of “shit I HAVE to read” is Patton Oswalt’s next book, Silver Screen Fiend. Due out in January 2015 - and available for pre-order on Amazon.com - the movie is about his addiction to films. I know that feeling too well.
  • To mark today’s Batman Day celebration (the character is 75 Years Young!), DC Comics is putting 750 digital Batman comics on sale for $1 each. What should you get? I’d start with Detective Comics #871-881, Scott Snyder’s brilliant “Black Mirror' run.
  • Speaking of digital comics - word on the street is Comixology is going DRM-Free? Interesting…
  • I’m not sure what this image is trying to say, but if I could put money on it: Grant Morrison (All Star Superman) is writing a book for BOOM! Studios.
  • Mezco Toys has announced their “The One: 12 Collective” series, which takes the high-end costuming you normally see in 1:6 scale (12” figures), and applies them to a 1:12 scale (6" figures). First up? Batman from The Dark Knight Returns.
  • Up next in Funko’s new Fabrikation line: possibly the most adorable Rocket Raccoon EVER!
  • Ashley Wood’s 3A Toys is getting into the DC Comics business. Even money says this new toy line will be A. Expensive and B. Shown off at SDCC this weekend?
  • NECA is continuing their line of 8-bit colored figures (and our trend this post) with a Michael Keaton styled Batman figure due this October.
  • Up next on the “How did Walgreens become the home of so many exclusive toys?” train: a “Hand of the King” styled Tyrion Lannister figure from Game of Thrones.
  • The Angry Birds Transformers toys are just awful, really.
  • So, the theme song from the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film. As good as - or better than - “TURTLE Power”?
  • Yesterday, a new Weezer song. Today, a new Rentals song. THE LATE 90s ARE SO HYPED RIGHT NOW.

That’s your Daily Blast for today. Enjoy your Wednesday!

Daily Blast: July 22nd, 2014

You can feel it in the air! We’re just ONE DAY AWAY from the beginning of nerd prom, as all eyes land on San Diego for Comic Con International. News keeps dropping, but the big reveals are being kept for Hall H.

What do we have today? Marvel’s selection of 75th Anniversary tales, a new Weezer song, the last of the Weird Al videos, JJ Abrams talks more about Star Wars charity (with another surprise), FX picks up awesome shows and MORE!

At the top of the post: Mondo is now going beyond high-end posters…into the toys game. Look at how awesome that Iron Giant is. You can see more here, including an adorable, Mike Mitchell designed Michelangelo figure.

  • Artist Mark Englert has put together a pretty awesome poster for Jurassic World, to be given away at SDCC 2014.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • JJ Abrams has returned to the web to get us to donate to Unice–MOTHERF**KER THAT’S AN X-WING
  • If Dwayne Johnson doesn’t want us to think he’s playing Shazam, he’s doing a bad job. Seriously, that’d be an awesome SDCC reveal.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • This “viral” ad is the first look at this Fall’s Nightcrawler (not the X-Men character) starring Jake Gyllenhaal.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • This November’s The Imitation Game, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing, is looking pretty damn good.
  • In “Goddamn the coast I live on news”, The Simpsons will be performed live by the voice cast and an orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl this September. Holy shit that sounds awesome.
  • The new ABC Toy Story special, The Toy Story That Time Forgot is being spotlighted at SDCC 2014, so of course - an awesome poster (with art by Mike Mignola!!!) will be available.
  • FX’s wonderful series based on Fargo has received a second season pick-up. Expect a new cast and storyline for this season.
  • Speaking of FX, they’ve also picked up Louie for a 5th Season. The bummer? They expect it to only be a seven episode season.
  • Marvel will be giving away a combined Agents of SHIELD and Agent Carter poster at their SDCC 2014 booth.
  • Speaking of Agents of SHIELD, look for Lucy Lawless to join the cast next year.
  • Just in time for the high-def re-release of The Last of Us at the end of this month, some awesome people with Photoshop at hand have deconstructed the PS3 game, as if it were a PS1 title.
  • Polygon has a nice write up on the in-development Mighty No. 9 cartoon, which at this rate, might hit before the game finishes developing!
  • Marvel has announced the issues that will make up their special 75th Anniversary Hardcover Omnibus, and I have to say, I’m surprised at the lack of Iron Man, and relative lack of X-Men stories.

- Fight Club 2 will be premiering in comic book form. Written by the original author, Chuck Palahniuk, with art from Cameron Stewart, look for it as a 10-issue mini-series from Dark Horse Comics in 2015.

  • Sideshow Collectibles is putting together a really beautiful Scout Trooper - and a sure to be expensive Speeder Bike - from Return of the Jedi for release sometime in 2015.
  • The last batch of Funko exclusives for SDCC 2014 have been revealed, including some bloody Pulp Fiction variants.
  • Last week, I didn’t even know Mike Tyson Mysteries was a thing. Now it’s getting toys. How time changes us all.
  • Here’s the first single off of the new Weezer album, Everything Will Be Alright, “Back To The Shack”.

  • The eighth and final video off of Weird Al Yankovic’s Mandatory Fun is the CSNY-styled “Mission Statement”.

See you tomorrow for your Wednesday Daily Blast!

Daily Blast: July 21st, 2014

Sorry folks, the weekend is over.

But don’t worry! We’ll ease you in nice with a Daily Blast chock full of awesome!

On the docket today: Marvel Studios has planned your next few years, Weird Al’s got a lot more videos, the ULTIMATE Batman LEGO set is coming, and we’ve got a pretty plausible plot for Star Wars: Episode VII.

At the top of the post: In a Babe Ruth-esq move, Marvel Studios has called their shot, announcing release dates  - but not film titles - through 2019.

  • How awesome is Peter Dinklage’s mullet in this first image from the video game disaster comedy Pixels?
  • Looks like the first proper trailer for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 will premiere this weekend at San Diego Comic Con. And at select Best Buys? Well, that’s definitely different.
  • With the assignment of F. Javier Guiterrez as director, it certainly seems like there’s going to be a The Ring 3, for whatever reason.
  • Speaking of new installments of Horror films I don’t quite understand, Warner Bros. is moving forward with a prequel to The Shining, titled Overlook Hotel. In its defense, it looks like Mark Romanek (One Hour Photo) will be directing.
  • Proving once again, the way to get a movie made in Hollywood these days is “being a thing”, Warner Bros. is working on a film based on classic video game Space Invaders.

- The New York Times brings this first look at Judd Apatow’s next comedy, Trainwreck. Written by and starring Amy Schumer, the movie features a diverse cast including Bill Hader (pictured) and WWE Champion John Cena. Really.

  • I’m trying to avoid any/all spoilers besides what comes from official sources, but - from what I understand, this leaked plot synopsis of Star Wars: Episode VII released by Badass Digest sounds pretty damn plausible.
  • Here’s our first look at Black Jesus, the new live-action series from The Boondocks creator Aaron McGruder. Look for it on August 7.
  • Either we’re getting too many Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles art shows, or not enough of them. Either way, /Film has a great run down of the second one of 2014, “COWABUNGA!” from IAm8Bit.
  • Image Comics has a number of rad SDCC 2014 exclusives planned, including a surprise anthology titled Giant-Size Kung Fu Bible Stories. You kinda have to buy it with that name, right?
  • Understandably, Marvel Comics will have a very impressive booth at SDCC 2014, including tons of exclusive merch, such as  the sweet Winter Soldier hoodie above.
  • Want a new series of Street Fighter action figures? Looks like you’ll have to Kickstart them to the tune of $85,000.

- USA Today got to reveal LEGO’s next major Ultimate Collector’s Set just ahead of SDCC 2014 - this new super-sized edition of The Tumbler from Christopher Nolan’s Batman films will run $199 for 1,869 pieces, including mini figures of Christian Bale’s Batman and Heath Ledger’s The Joker. How much would my fiancÁ© kill me if I bought this, I wonder…

  • …Saturday brought the Pixies-esq “First World Problems” at PopCrush…

www.youtube.com/watch

  • …and Sunday gave to us the name dropping “Lame Claim to Fame”.

That’s all for your Monday morning. See you back here tomorrow - or if major news breaks, we’ll try to fix it!

Daily Blast: July 18th, 2014

Hello! You’ve made it! It’s the end of the week!

Which means, really, there’s no better thing to do than kick back, slack off, and enjoy this week’s edition of the Daily Blast.

We’ve got some last minute SDCC news, we’ve got some Guardians of the Galaxy stuff, it’s a good way to end the week. Enjoy.

At the top of the post: Every year for the past few years, Warner Bros. has sponsored the giant swag bags for SDCC. This year’s batch was revealed, and all I can say is - there’s really a show called Mike Tyson Mysteries?!

  • Yesterday, the secondary characters. Today? The villains of Guardians of the Galaxy get their own posters.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • This trailer for the Mark Duplass/Elisabeth Moss starring The One I Love just has me wondering what on Earth the twist is!
  • Here’s your first look at Aquaman from the next direct-to-video DC Comics Animated film, Justice League: Throne of Atlantis.
  • Yes, there’s a Goosebumps movie. Yes, Jack Black is the lead. Yes, he’s starring as RL Stine, as seen in these new photos. Look for it in August 2015.
  • Deborah Ann Woll (True Blood) is the latest to join Marvel/Netflix’s Daredevil series. She’ll be playing classic Matt Murdock love interest Karen Page.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Jason Issacs (Harry Potter) has signed on to appear as the lead baddie in Star Wars Rebels, The Inquisitor.
  • The blu-ray set for the 1966 Batman live-action series is officially up for pre-order on Amazon, with a November 11 release date.
  • A mobile game for Guardians of the Galaxy launched yesterday. It sounds fun enough, but I may end up supporting it just because it features ZERO in-app purchases.
  • Mashable got an exclusive first-look at Superior Iron Man, the Avengers NOW! title from Marvel that relocates Tony Stark (with new armor, of course) to San Francisco.
  • It looks like Bandai’s line of Big Hero 6 toys is going to end up as rad as the movie. Definitely need a Baymax…
  • This is an odd sentence to write. Walgreens continues to be the hotbed of new exclusive toys. After getting Marvel and Star Wars exclusives from Hasbro, they’ll be home to an exclusive line of Doctor Who figures from Underground Toys.
  • Looks like LEGO has some more exclusives planned for SDCC 2014. In addition to some mini-figure giveaways, including The Collector from Guardians of the Galaxy (above), they’ll be selling more exclusive sets besides Rocket Raccoon and his ship…INCLUDING A CLASSIC BATMOBILE. DAMN IT ALL.
  • Hot Toys has unveiled their first Guardians of the Galaxy figures - you can get high end versions of Groot and Rocket Raccoon separately, or as a special double-pack. Either way, I’m sure - very expensive.
  • Weird Al continues his run of the Internet this week with his fourth video from Mandatory Fun. Here’s “Handy”, a spoof of “Fancy”.

See you back here on Monday! Have a great weekend!

Daily Blast: July 17th, 2014

It’s been a crazy week for comic fans so far, and it’s just going to get crazier as we are one week away from the start of Comic-Con International, AKA San Diego Comic Con, the biggest pop-culture show of the year.

In turn, it’s another jam-packed edition of the Daily Blast - with Marvel news galore, video game documentaries and so much more. Trust me when I say, this is the best selection of stuff to read you’ll find all day.

At the top of the post: Revealed last night on The Colbert Report, the worst kept secret in comics has been confirmed - Sam Wilson, the Falcon, will be taking over as Captain America, with his own comic, All-New Captain America launching in November. But, wait! There’s more! Check the comics section for that…

  • Director Duncan Jones (Moon) is wrapping up production on his adaptation of the Warcraft franchise. So, what’s next? If his Twitter is to be believed, he’s going to try to make Mute - his Blade Runner-esq sci-fi film, finally.
  • A few more Guardians of the Galaxy character posters have made their way to the web. We’ve got John C. Reilly as Rhomann Dey (above), Glenn Close as Nova-Prime, and Michael Rooker’s blue-tinted turn as Yondu.
  • Universal Studios is enlisting Alex Kurtzman (Star Trek) and Chris Morgan (The Fast & The Furious) to reboot the classic Universal Monsters into one, united Marvel-style franchise. Why can’t things just be things, anymore?
  • Mondo will be releasing a limited edition 7" vinyl of the opening and closing themes from Batman: The Animated Series at SDCC 2014. There will be 5 variant covers available.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • I’m not sure why, but Syfy is making 12 Monkeys into a TV show. The trailer doesn’t look out and out awful, but I feel like there’s no way it will ever be as good as the film.
  • For a limited time, the documentary More Than A Game, all about competitive fighting game players, can be watched for free on Vimeo.
  • Mondo has teamed up with Insomniac Games to release an exclusive poster for Sunset Overdrive at SDCC 2014. This marks  the first video game based poster from the Austin, TX group.
  • So as it turns out, the new Thor and the new Captain America were just the beginning for Marvel Comics, as this fall brings Avengers NOW!, the third phase of Marvel’s NOW initiative, which started with Marvel NOW! in 2012, then became All-New Marvel NOW! in 2013.  We’ll be seeing a new Iron Man series with Superior Iron Man, and if the promo image above is any indication, expect expanded roles for characters such as Dr. Strange and Ant-Man (just in time for their movies), the Inhumans, and…yep, Angela, too.
  • Oni Press has a number of SDCC 2014 exclusives planned, including the Evil Edition of the color reprint of Scott Pilgrim Vol. 5, and of course, a Ramona Flowers bag, for all the cosplayers.
  • It looks like Amazon’s going to take a stab at being the Netflix of books with Kindle Unlimited. Sorry, Oyster.
  • Sideshow Toys will be releasing a high-end premium statue of cult-classic DC Comic’s anti-hero Lobo in 2015. The figure will feature interchangeable heads, and thankfully, isn’t based on the New 52 look.
  • Of all places, the Wall Street Journal got to reveal LEGO’s SDCC 2014 exclusive, Rocket Raccoon and his Warbird ship from Guardians of the Galaxy. It’ll run you $40.
  • Yep. Even MORE Funko! SDCC 2014 exclusives have been revealed, including - most importantly - a Superman shirt wearing Sloth, from The Goonies!
  • Adding to their lines for Doctor Who and Breaking Bad, Titan Merchandising has now announced a blind-boxed vinyl figure line for Buffy: The Vampire Slayer.
  • And of course, as the distributor of all things comics, you just know that Diamond has to have some rad SDCC 2014 exclusives, right?
  • Weird Al’s officially up to 3 of his 8 videos for Mandatory Fun, his new album released on Tuesday. The latest video - a collaboration with College Humor, is for the Lorde spoofing “Foil”.
  • Frito Lay is once again bringing the “Do Us A Flavor” Potato Chip contest to the world, this time allowing happy eaters to choose between four flavors, including Bacon Mac & Cheese and Cappuccino? Whatever. Lets just hope they don’t botch it like they did last year, with the pick of Cheesy Garlic Bread.

That’s all for this lovely Thursday. See you on Friday, nerds!

Entertainment Weekly Gets The First-Look At 'Avengers: Age of Ultron'

Get ready for the goosebumps - our first look at the sequel to 2012’s MASSIVE hit, The Avengers is here.

Entertainment Weekly once again delivers during Comic Con week with our first official image from The Avengers: Age of Ultron, with a new look at Captain America (Chris Evans) and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) in their new gear, plus the titular Ultron, played by James Spader.

The above image was posted to Twitter just about noon today, but the link itself does not appear to be live just yet.

We’ll update as we have more…

UPDATE: The article is now live!

As figured, Ultron is Tony Stark’s AI gone terribly wrong. Straight from the article:

The only problem? Ultron (played by James Spader through performance-capture technology) lacks the human touch, and his superior intellect quickly determines that life on Earth would go a lot smoother if he just got rid of Public Enemy No. 1: Human beings. “Ultron sees the big picture and he goes, Okay, we need radical change, which will be violent and appalling, in order to make everything better’; he’s not just going Muhaha, soon I’ll rule!’“ Whedon says, rubbing his hands together. Should be interesting to see what else Marvel has in-store for Comic-Con International next week.

UPDATE 2: Entertainment Weekly has also released 8 new photos, which we’ve mirrored for you below. You get that Avengers money, Cheadle!

[gallery ids=“18934,18935,18936,18937,18941,18938,18939,18940”]

 

Daily Blast: July 16th, 2014

Happy Wednesday, Nerdarinos!

Here’s hoping you got your Lady Thor nerd rage out yesterday, as I’d love to see the internet be a better place today (for the record, I freaking LOVE the idea of Lady Thor). But even if you haven’t - don’t worry! - we’ve got another Daily Blast practically splitting at the seams with nerdy goodness.

What’s on tap today? Weird Al has another video, 80’s icons team up in comic form, Futurama looks more beautiful than ever,  and Joss Whedon trolls the internet! Strap in, let’s BLAST away!

At the top of the page: Artist Alexey Zakharov decided to take a stab at what a 3D animated version of Futurama would look like. Per his version? BEAUTIFUL.

- Big Hero 6, Disney & Marvel’s awesome looking CG film, will be getting a manga prequel, titled Baymax, in Japan.

  • Studio Ghibli’s The Tale of Princess Kaguya is set for a US release October 17 - you can read up on the dubbed cast list here.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Here’s a look at Simon Pegg’s latest flick, Hector and the Pursuit of Happiness, a story of a psychologist traversing the globe to find out what makes people happy.
  • Apparently Dawn of the Planet of the Apes has a filmed, but unused alternate ending. I still haven’t seen it yet, so I didn’t read this, but you totally can here!
  • The Power Rangers movie is moving forward with Roberto Orci (Star Trek) producing, and a script being cooked up by  Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz, who worked on drafts of X-Men: First Class and Thor.
  • Newcomer Neel Sethli will star as Mowgli in Disney’s live-action The Jungle Book.
  • Valiant Comics’ Archer & Armstrong is the next comic to get a big on-screen adaptation.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Yesterday brought the poster, today, welcome the trailer for the movie adaptation of Joe Hill’s Horns.
  • Kate Mara, starring as the Invisible Woman, says that the new Fantastic Four movie isn’t based on the comics. I assume she means its an original story? Yeah, I dunno.
  • Adult Swim looks to be in the Aaron McGruder (The Boondocks) business for a very long time.

www.youtube.com/watch

- Tonight Show? Feh. Conan O’Brien’s now going to really make it - he’ll be starring in Roger Corman’s Sharktopus vs. Pteracuda, premiering on Syfy August 2nd.

  • Joss Whedon decided to bring Firefly back this week. In drawing form.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Fox has released yet another trailer for Gotham which fails to excite me. I’m in for the pilot, either way.
  • This is really cool - someone built an incredibly elaborate BioShock Infinite LEGO diorama.
  • In a not terribly shocking move, Sony intends to port PS3 games to the PS4, in an attempt to showcase their backlog with those coming from Xbox 360’s and Wii’s last generation. Works for me.
  • Adam West will be appearing as Adam West in LEGO Batman 3. HELL YEAH.
  • No sooner than I get all excited about Tesla’s thanks to The Oatmeal, the electric car company has announced the Model 3, a smaller, more affordable Tesla. I’m all ears, Elon Musk.
  • Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth) and Matt Kindt (Mind MGMT) are teaming with artist Paolo Rivera (Daredevil) for a stand-alone Valiant Comics crossover titled, The Valiant.
  • IDW has found a license to print money. Get ready for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters this October!
  • Bluefin Distribution has a lot of cool SDCC 2014 exclusives planned, for those with tastes for imported Japanese toys.
  • Walmart will be the home to an exclusive Star Wars Hero Series Millennium Falcon. The Hero Series allows for large sized, low detail versions of classic vehicles.

<img class=“aligncenter size-full wp-image-18919” src=“https://www.blast-o-rama.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/SDCC-Exclusive-Pacific-Rim-“End-Titles"-Jaeger-Action-Figure-3-Pack.jpg” alt=“SDCC-Exclusive-Pacific-Rim-“End-Titles"-Jaeger-Action-Figure-3-Pack” width=“480” height=“600” />

  • NECA has unveiled their SDCC 2014 exclusives, including a Pacific Rim set based on the film’s end credits.
  • Love this Baymax figure from Big Hero 6? Me too. Guess what? SDCC 2014 Exclusive.
  • Jenny Lewis is back with a new solo album (The Voyager), and the video for the first single (“Just One of the Guys”) features Kristen Stewart, Brie Larson and Anne Hathaway in drag.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Video 2 of 8 from Weird Al’s Mandatory Fun is for “Word Crimes”, a spoof of “Blurred Lines”. This video is pretty great.
  • #FastFoodArmsRace Update: Pizza Hut is now the latest pizza chain to bring forth a COOKIE PIZZA. This one has Hershey’s blessing though.

See you tomorrow! Same Blast time, Same Blast channel!

Odinson Unworthy, Behold the new THOR!

Announced earlier today on The View, this October, Marvel will be relaunching Thor with a brand new #1, and a brand new lady acting as the God of Thunder.

Written by Jason Aaron with art from Russell Dauterman, the story has Thor Odinson being made no longer worthy of the hammer of Mjolnir, and in turn, someone else - who has yet to be revealed - will be taking the hammer and the name of Thor.

This lines up with a hammer-less, axe-carrying Thor, as hinted toward in the pages of Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers.

Marvel.com has more details, and additional preview art, including a look at “Unworthy Thor”. Me? I like it.

CONTEST: Win a 'The Purge: Anarchy' Prize Pack!

Hitting theaters this Friday, July 18th, is The Purge: Anarchy - the sequel to The Purge, wherein for one 24 hour period, there are no laws and anything can and will happen…usually bad things.

To celebrate, our friends at Universal Pictures have hooked us up with a special prize pack, letting us give away a The Purge: Anarchy t-shirt (size large) and flashlight to one lucky reader!

How do you win? Check out the cool GIF app above, and reply, letting us know your favorite, and answer this question - if the Purge WERE real, what would you do?

We’ll randomly pick one winner, and then you’ll be mailed the goods! (Must be in the United States to win, and please, remember to fill out your email address when you reply.) You can enter NOW through Monday, July 21st!

Good luck!

BIG HERO 6 Trailer Released

www.youtube.com/watch

No sooner than I post the Daily Blast saying its “coming soon”, Big Hero 6’s trailer has hit the web.

Baymax is going to become a HUGE fan favorite, and the movie looks absolutely beautiful.

Look for it on November 7.

EDIT: Updated with official Disney embed.

Daily Blast: July 15th, 2014

Back from Connecticut, it’s your favorite regular recap of all the great geeky news found on the web - it’s your DAILY BLAST!

Seriously, how are we already mid-way through July?

What’s in today’s edition? It’s a comics-heavy edition, leading into San Diego Comic Con, plus we’ve got our first OFFICIAL look at the cast of Big Hero 6, fighting game news coming out of EVO 2014, and the first of Weird Al’s new videos! Read on and enjoy!

At the top of the post: Like the rest of you, I am WAY excited for this October’s relaunch of Batgirl.

  • Just in time for a new trailer to release soon, Disney has finally officially revealed the full cast (and list of voice actors) for this November’s Marvel CG collaboration, Big Hero 6.
  • Here’s our first look at Uku, the lead of Lava, the new Pixar short premiering in front of Inside Out in June 2015.
  • Taking the form of a faux newspaper article, the above is the teaser poster for the film adaptation of Joe Hill’s Horns, starring Daniel Radcliffe.

- Harmontown, the documentary based on the podcast of the same name, hosted by Community creator Dan Harmon, will have a theatrical and VOD release this fall.

  • Complete with sweet facial hair, Agent Kallus is the other big bad in the forthcoming Star Wars Rebels animated series.
  • Looks like Colin Farrell will be one of three leads in the second season of HBO’s True Detective.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • IS THAT A T-REX IN THE NEW DOCTOR WHO SEASON 8 TRAILER?!
  • Cliff Bleszinski (Gears of War) revealed the first image from his next game, Bluestreak over on Reddit.
  • Team Teamwork, who I remember best for the great rap/Final Fantasy mash-up album Vinyl Fantasy 7, have returned with the Katamari based Katamari Da-Emcee.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • The long-rumored Heavenly Sword movie, based off of the PS3 title, is finally getting released. Look for it on disc and download on September 2nd.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • The latest character to join the Mortal Kombat X cast is thunder god Raiden, making another classic choice for the new installment.
  • Apparently we’ll be seeing an animated short film based on Assassin’s Creed: Unity at SDCC 2014, directed by Rob Zombie (The Devil’s Rejects) and comic artist Tony Moore (The Walking Dead).

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Announced at EVO 2014, here’s your first look at Tekken 7, celebrating TWENTY YEARS of Tekken. God I’m old. (Tekken 3 is still the best)

www.youtube.com/watch

  • The cast of Super Smash Bros for the Wii-U and 3DS has expanded, now including Captain Falcon and Lucina & Robin from Fire Emblem: Awakening.
  • There will be a number of different pre-order incentives for LEGO Batman 3, but really, the only one you’ll care about is a LEGO Plastic Man figure, exclusive to (sigh) GameStop.
  • This October, Alex Kot (Zero) and Marco Rudy (Marvel Knights: Spider-Man) will bring the cosmic-infused Bucky Barnes: The Winter Soldier to Marvel Comics.
  • This is jarring - in this week’s new issue of Life of Archie, Archie will be shot, and die, after stepping in the path of a bullet meant for Kevin Keller.
  • Looks like DC Collectibles has a lot of awesome toys to showcase at SDCC, including a “Zero Year” styled Batman.
  • The latest in their Iron Man 3 line, Hot Toys will be bringing a 1:6 scale version of the Mark XLI “Bones” armor to collectors later this year.
  • The first video from Weird Al’s new album, Manditory Fun, has hit the web - a spoof of Pharrell’s “Happy”, the video for “Tacky” is full of awesome comedians.

Be back tomorrow! Have a great day!

Daily Blast: July 10th, 2014

Happy Thursday, everyone!

Another stacked edition of the Daily Blast is here for your reading enjoyment!

What’s on the docket today? EVEN MORE SDCC exclusives, a beautiful animated short film, the most irritating pre-order exclusive ever, and so much more!

Special note: There will be NO Daily Blast tomorrow, as I will be up in Hartford, CT, performing alongside Super Art Fight at ConnectiCon. Come out and say hi!

At the top of the post: The Poster Posse revealed a third round of Batman 75th Anniversary pieces yesterday. Check ‘em out!

  • Chris Columbus has signed on to produce both a reboot of Gremlins and the long-awaited sequel to The Goonies.
  • Ian McKellen will be playing a 93 year old Sherlock Holmes in the forthcoming Mr. Holmes, and the above is your first look. I can hear Tumblr getting over Benedict Cumberbatch from here.
  • Richard Linklater’s The Incredible Mr. Limpet remake starring Zach Galifinakis is getting an amazing cast. In talks to join the film are Jon Hamm, Sarah Silverman, Keegan Michale Key, Jordan Peele and more!

www.youtube.com/watch

- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 continues to be teased by way of Presidential address.

  • With Pacific Rim 2 set for 2017, apparently Guillermo del Toro is working on fitting in a small, “really bizarre” black and white film before production starts.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Ex-Disney Animator Glen Keane has put together a beautiful animated short, called The Duet. Check it out above.
  • Looks like Jonah Hill and Scarlett Johansson are in talks to join the Coen Brothers’ next film, Hail Ceasar!.
  • Alec Baldwin sure is changing his mind about that whole retirement thing - he’s in talks to join the cast of Mission: Impossible 5.
  • Director Gus Van Sant is the latest to circle adapting the Japanese manga Death Note into an American film.

- Arrow got The Atom, now The Flash gains Firestorm, with The Tomorrow People’s Robbie Amell joining the cast as the fiery hero.

  • This Saturday, Gallery Nucleus in Alhambra, CA will hold “Heroes In A Half Shell”, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles art exhibit. Featuring awesome art, giveaways, and even the chance to get your photos with the Turtles, it sounds like a fun time.
  • Syfy has ordered a pilot for a television adaptation of Lev Grossman’s book series, The Magicians.
  • Well, that’s frustrating. The pre-order bonus for Alien: Isolation is the ability to play with the original Alien cast. ONLY for pre-orders. (For now, I guess?)
  • HOMESTAR RUNNER IS COMING BACK.
  • Jason Aaron (Original Sin) and Ron Garney (Uncanny X-Force) are teaming up on a new creator-owned book for Marvel’s Icon imprint, titled Men of Wrath.
  • Ex-Marvel Editor in Chief Roy Thomas has penned 75 Years of Marvel: From the Golden Age to the Silver Screen. The 700-page tome hits shelves in the Fall. Here’s hoping they’re strong enough to hold them.
  • Here’s a look at even more of DC Comics' October Monster Variant covers.
  • Jeff Smith (Bone) has produced an awesome looking SDCC 2014 variant cover for Marvel’s Rocket Raccoon #1
  • These Build-A-Bear versions of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (based on the show) are ADORABLE.
  • Funko announced a sixth batch of SDCC exclusives, including figures from Breaking Bad and a very spoiler-heavy figure from The Walking Dead.
  • Bandai is bringing a ton of exclusives to SDCC 2014, including toys from Godzilla, Big Hero 6 and Power Rangers.
  • A team of dedicated LEGO builders combined forces to bring The Princess Bride to proper LEGO life.
  • The high-end Tonner Doll Company will have their first ever SDCC exclusives this year, including a classically styled Wonder Woman.
  • The Hollywood Reporter (of all things) has a look at Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle exclusives for SDCC 2014, including a first-look at this Playmates Raphael figure, based on the original TMNT comic series.
  • Weezer’s new album, Everything Will Be Alright In The End has officially been confirmed for a September 30 release.

See you guys on Monday - have a great weekend!

Daily Blast: July 9th, 2014

Good morning and hello, dear friends!

As the SDCC hype continues, today’s Daily Blast is full of comics news and not just one, but two high-profile new FPS games. Plus that hot mess above.

Check it out!

At the top of the post: That Photoshop nightmare is the first poster for Exodus: Gods and Kings, director Ridley Scott’s retelling of the story of Moses. As you’ll see in the movies section, the trailer looks better.

  • Bad Robot (JJ Abrams' production company) took to Twitter last night to confirm that Star Wars: Episode VII is shooting some sequences in native IMAX.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • See? Told you the trailer for Exodus: Gods and Kings was better than the poster.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • With this trailer for Sharknado 2, I feel like someone forgot that what made the first so “good” was that no one expected it. Now I can’t wait for this second one to just air and be done with.
  • Ehren Kruger (Transformers) has been assigned the role of ruining another franchise bringing a live-action Dumbo to life with a first pass at a script.
  • JK Rowling has written a new short story in the Harry Potter series, picking up with Harry as a 34-year-old attending the Quidditch World Cup.
  • Super Mario Bros. is getting its own line of Converse sneakers in Japan, including the super awesome looking Bowser kicks above.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Gearbox, creators of Borderlands, have announced their first title for the new generation of consoles. Battleborn, a first-person MOBA game will hit PC, Xbox One and PS4, and is this month’s Game Informer cover story.
  • Speaking of top shooter developers, Cliffy B (Cliff Beszinski) is back in gaming. Yesterday, he announced his first new game since leaving Epic in 2012, a Free to Play shooter titled Blue Streak.
  • The Poster Posse is back for a second round to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Batman.
  • Artist Alex Maleev (Iron Man) will team up with writers Mike Mignola and John Arcudi for a new Hellboy & The BPRD series from Dark Horse Comics this December.
  • BOOM! Studios has announced a new Fraggle Rock mini-series, written by Kate Leth (Bravest Warriors)
  • DC Comics made two big announcements at io9.com yesterday - the new creative team for Catwoman, and the return of classic Jack Kirby character Klarion: The Witch Boy, with his own solo series.
  • Additionally, DC Comics has announced the return of Lobo, in a series hitting this October pitting the New 52 version versus the classic Lobo, now called “Faux-bo”.
  • Up next in DC Comics' run of never ending variant covers - October 2014’s Monsters Month.
  • Two toys are back from the dead at once, as Hasbro releases a ROM: The Space Knight Mighty Mugg! Of course, it’s an SDCC Exclusive.
  • Believe it or not, but the above The Walking Dead play set is made of building blocks. Kind of. Todd McFarlane is now attempting to do for the block building world what he did with action figures. Which I guess just means “making them more elaborate/expensive”?
  • Gentle Giant is bringing an awesome Rocket Raccoon mini-bust to SDCC 2014.
  • Dark Horse is bringing a number of Game of Thrones collectibles to SDCC, including pewter figures of Daenerys' dragons.

That’s that for your Wednesday Daily Blast! Let us know what you think of today’s edition of the comments, we’d love to hear from you.

Daily Blast: July 8th, 2014

Hello and happy Tuesday to you, dear readers!

I hope things are good where you are, but even if they’re not - don’t worry! IT’S TIME FOR YOUR DAILY BLAST!

What’s on the docket today? More Guardians of the Galaxy footage, Destiny gets a special edition or two, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles get their own pizzas.

GO FORTH! AND READ!

At the top of the post: NYC’s One-Shot Gallery is currently featuring an art show, “From Spawn to Saga” paying tribute to Image Comics. The above piece by Alex Leighton is one of my favorites, but you can view the whole show here.

  • I’m set and don’t need to see any more footage myself, but if you’re interested, Fandango has an exclusive Guardians of the Galaxy trailer, featuring a boatload of new scenes.
  • AMC Theaters has announced a $600 Million plan to renovate their movie theaters. The main goal? Replace existing seats with recliners. Expect to see a small increase in ticket prices to cover this change.
  • Fox has teamed with Hero Complex Gallery to release a special print for this weekend’s release of Rise of the Planet of the Apes. It’s on sale now.

- The Walking Dead returns to AMC this October, and of course, you can’t just premiere a show - you need a teaser trailer! Here’s the first for the new season of the zombie filled series.

- Superman Returns lead Brandon Routh will be joining the cast of Arrow this season, as classic DC hero The Atom.

  • While it doesn’t premiere until July 23rd, Comedy Central is streaming the first episode of their new standup series The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail for free on both their website and via Amazon. Check it out, it’s a very fun show based on a great Los Angeles-based standup show.
  • Bungie has taken the veil off of the special edition releases of Destiny, with the ultra limited Ghost edition (pictured above) already having sold out on Amazon.com. Crazy.
  • If GameStop wasn’t irritating enough, apparently they now want to get involved with the development of games, including retailer exclusive content, as opposed to add-ons.
  • Blurppy.com’s Poster Posse has done it again, celebrating Batman’s 75th Anniversary in style with some beautiful new artwork commemorating the Dark Knight’s birthday.
  • In a bold move, Image Comics has announced that the next edition of their Image Expo series (think fan convention meets Apple keynote for comics) will take place on Wednesday, July 23rd in San Diego, just hours before San Diego Comic Con kicks off.
  • Dark Horse Comics is already announcing their SDCC 2014 news, starting with a new creator-owned series by Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth). Working with artist Dean Ormston, you can expect the superhero deconstructing series The Black Hammer in March 2015.
  • Square Enix has revealed the finished versions of the first two figures in their Injustice line, Batman and Joker. They’re lookin' pretty good!
  • Big Chief Studios has announced a 1:6 scale figure of the first incarnation of Doctor Who.
  • As a part of a Ninja Turtles promotion, Pizza Hut is not only bringing back the Cheesy Bites Pizza, but they’ve also created a secret menu of TMNT-based pizza pies.

That’s all for your Tuesday Daily Blast. Now go and have a great day, OK?

Daily Blast: July 7th, 2014

Hello and happy Monday fellow nerds!

I am back on the correct coast after a successful trip this past weekend to Anime Expo alongside Super Art Fight. It’s a real pleasure to get to do our brand of show so far away from home, and always surreal to have the heroes welcome we do.

Never the less, it’s time to get back to Blast-O-Rama business (until I leave for the next convention, on Thursday night), so here is your Monday Daily Blast, full of Fincher goodness, Doctor Who leaks and EVEN MORE Funko Pop Vinyls. ENJOY!

At the top of the post: That’s our first look at the latest set from LEGO’s crowdsourced Ideas line, the Exo Suit! Besides looking cool, this marks the first ever Green Space Man!

  • In a very clever move, as a part of the promotion for Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel Studios has launched a site for Galaxy Getaways, a faux galactic travel agency, showcasing a number of locations from the film.
  • For an early taste at what Pacific Rim 2 might be, look no farther than this Guillermo Del Toro interview with the Wall Street Journal. Apparently we’ll be seeing a focus on the Drift, where the two pilots consciousnesses collide.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Honestly, how great does the new trailer for David Fincher’s adaptation of Gone Girl look? And how good does Trent Reznor’s score sound?
  • Add two unknowns to the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII, Crystal Clarke and Pip Anderson. The movie will also be taking a two week production break to help with the healing time of Harrison Ford (who broke his leg on-set last month).
  • Here’s yet another teaser trailer for the new season of Doctor Who, although I’m not sure if teasers are needed any more, since the first five scripts apparently leaked to the Internet this weekend…
  • Kickstarted Mega Man heir-apparent Mighty No. 9 is attempting a multi-media blitz, as an animated series is now in the works.
  • As a part of Marvel’s Avengers and X-Men crossover event, AXIS, Carnage and Hobgoblin will be getting solo mini-series of their own.
  • Adding to their extensive list of SDCC Exclusives, Funko will have 2 Marvel exclusives at the con - a set of Marvel Mystery Minis, and a special Flocked (read: furry) variant of Rocket Raccoon’s Pop Vinyl, pictured above!
  • The Fwoosh! got a very nice first-look at Mattel’s SDCC release of the Batman: Arkham Knight Batmobile.
  • Next stop for Funko’s attempt to make Pop! Vinyl figures of EVERYTHING? Kill Bill.
  • In a surreal turn of events, a new Pink Floyd album, titled The Endless River will hit shelves later this year. Built off of leftover recordings from 1994’s The Division Bell, this new album will release alongside a 20th Anniversary edition of what may thought was Pink Floyd’s final release.

See you tomorrow at your normal time for your TUESDAY Daily Blast!

Daily Blast: July 3rd, 2014

 

Good morning folks! It’s a JAM-PACKED Daily Blast today. I blame all of the SDCC exclusive news. People seriously want you to buy their swag this year.

Special note: I am leaving for Los Angeles tomorrow morning to play Anime Expo alongside Super Art Fight, so there will NOT be a Daily Blast or any other updates from me for July 4th. I’m sure some major news will break, just to spite me.

That said, we’ve got an awesome edition for you today, and we’ll be back as usual on Monday.

At the top of the post: That’s our first look at Superman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, courtesy of USA Today. I don’t notice any changes in the costume this go-around. Do you?

  • Let’s be honest, Foxcatcher will win ALL of the Oscars this year, right?

- The Expendables 3, starring every action star ever and…Kelsey Grammer, will be the first in the franchise to be rated PG-13.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Set for release in Japan this Summer, here’s our first look at Studio Ghibli’s next, When Marnie Was There.
  • The release of Fast & Furious 7 has been moved up a week - originally set for an April 10 bow, look for it on April 3, 2015.
  • BBC One confirmed on their Twitter yesterday that we should see a Sherlock Special in 2015, followed by a three episode 4th season, probably not airing until 2016.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Netflix swooped in and saved The Killing for a fourth and final season, and the trailer has gone live. Look for it to premiere on the streaming service on August 1.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Warner Bros. has officially announced Batman: The Complete Series for a DVD/Blu-Ray/Digital Download release in November 2014. The above trailer has the first details, but expect more at a panel at…you guessed it, San Diego Comic Con.
  • Wondering what the cast of Mortal Kombat (the arcade game, not the movie) looks like, decades later? They gathered at an arcade in Illinois, and honestly, I think they’re ready for a sequel! (for the most part)
  • Once only available at just 10 Brick & Mortar locations in the US & Japan, the Pokemon Co. has announced that they are taking the Pokemon Center and its merchandise online starting August 6th. GET READY FOR YOUR WALLET TO PERISH, POKE-NERDS!
  • The Fullbright Company has released a retail, boxed edition of Gone Home, their big indie hit of 2013. I haven’t played the game myself, but based on the details on the blog, this looks like an amazing keepsake for fans of the game.

- Deathstroke, starring, appropriately, the DC Comics anti-hero Deathstroke: The Terminator, will debut on October 22nd, by Tony S. Daniel (Superman/Wonder Woman). This is Slade’s return to DC Comics, after his last series ended in May 2013.

  • Dark Horse Comics has announced their first batch of SDCC 2014 Exclusives, including the GREATEST HELLBOY PLUSH EVER.
  • BOOM! Studios will be releasing a set of (say it with me now!) SDCC 2014 Exclusive scout badges from their hot book Lumberjanes.
  • Hot Toys is releasing a trio of convention exclusive 1:6 Scale figures (available at, you guessed it, SDCC 2014) - Aliens vs. Predator Predator, Iron Man Mark XX from Iron Man 3, and a new version of Bank Robber Joker from The Dark Knight.
  • The Marvel Select figure of the Falcon from Captain America: The Winter Soldier hit comic shops this week. Nab it for the Anthony Mackie fan in your life.
  • Icon Heroes has announced their SDCC 2014 exclusives, including a sweet She-Ra letter opener, and Star Trek bookends.
  • A fourth round of SDCC 2014 announcements has arrived from Funko, including some awesome glow-in-the-dark Adventure Time Pop! Vinyls.
  • Super 7 has revealed the rest of their SDCC 2014 exclusives, including, hilariously, a ReAction figure of The Gimp from Pulp Fiction. What a world we live in.
  • Sideshow Collectibles will be releasing an AMAZING looking premium figure of King Hulk from World War Hulk. Retailing for $600, expect it at SDCC 2014 in January 2015.
  • The track list for “Weird” Al Yankovic’s Mandatory Fun has been revealed. I think I see a Lorde parody and another great polka medley in the mix.
  • That’s the cover art for Weezer’s new album Everything Will Be Alright In The End. Continuing their love of Internet things (everyone remember the “Pork & Beans” video?), the image is sourced from one of those “add a monster to a thrift store painting” things.
  • Pushing the barriers of what constitutes food, 7-Eleven has launched Doritos Loaded, which are basically cheese bites covered with mashed Doritos.
  • Insuring my adult onset diabetes, the July 2014 Blizzard of the Month at Dairy Queen is…Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Pie.
  • Speaking of diabetes, Baskin Robbin’s flavor of the month? Oreo Cake Batter. Jesus god.

And that’s it for today’s Daily Blast! See you in Los Angeles if you can make it out, otherwise, have a great holiday, and don’t explode you (or your loved ones) this weekend. USA! USA! USA! USA!

Daily Blast: July 2nd, 2014

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

It’s time once again for a jam-packed bit of Daily Blast goodness, with writer news, SDCC exclusives, and probably the worst sounding chip flavor I’ve ever encountered.

Start the middle of your week right - GET TO READING!

At the top of the post: One of the greatest video games ever (IMO), Okami will be getting some beautiful, limited run art prints by Dutch art dealership Cook & Becker.

  • This first look at Christian Bale as Moses in Ridley Scott’s Exodus: Gods and Kings looks SUPER bad-ass.
  • Universal Pictures will be releasing the Steven Spielberg Directors Collection Blu-Ray box set on October 14. This will include the first HD editions of Duel, 1941, The Sugarland Express and Always. You can pre-order it now from Amazon.com.
  • Get stoked, horror nerds! Scream! Factory will release the director’s cut of Clive Barker’s Nightbreed this October.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Bill Murray makes for a terrible baby sitter in this first trailer for St. Vincent. Melissa McCarthy also stars.
  • Jonathan Lemkin (Shooter) has signed on to write GI Joe 3, which is expected to revolve around Dwayne Johnson’s character Roadblock.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • From the sequels we didn’t need department, here’s the first teaser trailer for Horrible Bosses 2, the sequel to the “OK-but-not-great" Horrible Bosses. Get that sequel money, Charlie Day.
  • Seven years after the release of the first, Disney has assigned writers to Enchanted 2.
  • After a false start with HBO, Neil Gaiman is now working with Starz to produce a television adaptation of American Gods.
  • Devon Aoki (Sin City) will join the cast of Arrow this season, as the DC Comics heroine Katana.
  • Multiplayer alien shooter Evolve walked away as the “Best of Show” winner for the 2014 E3, as voted on by the gaming press.
  • John Cena will be the cover star of WWE 2K15, which will also be one of the first instances used of the new WWE logo (found on their streaming network).
  • BOOM! Comics has announced a slue of SDCC 2014 exclusives, including a hardcover of Marceline and the Scream Queens.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Fox’s ADHD group has released a video featuring a more factually-accurate version of Captain America. Hint: we’re awful.
  • NECA’s releasing an incredible figure of the Queen Alien from Aliens this October.
  • Walgreens snags another exclusive action figure - this time, Prototype Boba Fett from the Star Wars Black line.
  • Funko/Super7’s ReAction Figure line will grow to include Horror Classics characters in August. I love how these turned out.
  • Speaking of Funko/Super7’x ReAction line, Action Figure Insider got an exclusive early reveal of one of their SDCC 2014 exclusives, the Alien Deep Space mystery figure! (The figure is hidden inside the egg.)
  • One more SDCC/Alien related bit - Gentle Giant will have an exclusive, glow-in-the-dark jumbo Alien at the show.
  • “Weird” Al Yankovic will be releasing eight new music videos, over eight straight days, starting July 14, to promote his new album Mandatory Fun, dropping July 15.
  • Atari has ported over three of its classic games as a part of a Denny’s promotion. You can play Hashteroids, Take-out and Centi-Pup in Denny’s mobile app. They have one of those?
  • Just like that gross kid in the cafeteria at school, Lay’s Spain has mixed up Ketchup and Mayonnaise for a new Potato Chip flavor.
  • Carvel has teamed up with Nutella for some amazing sounding ice cream treats.

That’s all for today! See you tomorrow with more awesome!

Daily Blast: July 1st, 2014

July is here, everyone - meaning we’ve hit the unofficial half-way mark of Summer.

But don’t fret! There’s more awesome to be had. 4th of July Fireworks, Guardians of the Galaxy, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and of course, your favorite Daily Blast, every weekday…minus a few when I’ll be away for Super Art Fight stuff.

What’s in today’s edition? Community has been saved, more SDCC exclusives, DC Comics is going batty, an update on Sherlock and so much more! Click through to read on!

At the top of the post: Marvel released three more character posters for Guardians of the Galaxy. You can check out the rest here.

  • Bryan Singer took to Instagram to tease that the treatment for X-Men: Apocalypse is done.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • The Sundance darling The Skeleton Twins places Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig into dramatic roles, as a pair of siblings who reunite after a decade of silence. The first trailer has hit, and I’m already looking forward to its September 19 release.
  • Composer Michael Giacchino gets all the props for his incredibly pun-filled track listing for the Rise of the Planet of the Apes score.
  • With an image to support the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund, we get our first look at Henry Cavill as Clark Kent in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
  • Channing Tatum takes center stage in this new poster for Fall Oscar hopeful Foxcatcher.

- Community will return as a web-only series for its sixth season, thanks to a last minute save by Yahoo!.

  • A new image from Doctor Who Series 8 certainly seems to confirm the return of some old favorites.
  • Martin Freeman is hinting towards a Sherlock Christmas Special, to be filmed next year.
  • The surreal PC title Goat Simulator will receive a proper retail release later this month.
  • DC Comics is going Batman crazy! They’ve just announced two brand-new in continuity titles, Arkham Manor, where Wayne Manor becomes a new home for Arkham and Gotham Academy (pictured above), which showcases the adventures of a group of teenage girls at a Gotham prep school. If that wasn’t enough, Jiro Kuwata’s Batman Manga from 1966 is getting a digital release starting this Saturday. Combined, this means that DC will be concurrently publishing over a dozen Batman related titles at once.
  • Toys R Us will have a number of San Diego Comic Con debuts this year, including an early release of the figures based on the 1990’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie series
  • Funko has announced a third batch of SDCC 2014 exclusives, including my personal favorite, a Bloody Pop! Vinyl of Hannibal.

See you back here tomorrow with your Wednesday edition of the Daily Blast!

Daily Blast: June 30th, 2014

Your first Daily Blast of the week is also the last of June - look at that summer go!

What’s in today’s edition? We’ve got zombie rom-coms, we’ve got games leaked by European dealers, we’ve got expensive Batman toys, hell - we’ve even got Trapper Keepers!

Something for everyone. Read away!

At the top of the post: That’s the cover to Transformers Legacy, an awesome looking hardcover arriving this Fall, collecting the Transformers box art that induced so many daydreams in the children of my generation.

  • This probably leaked a bit early, but here’s a first look at our cast of Big Hero 6. I feel like the designs are a bit Frozen and Tangled-esq. You can click the source link for individual posters.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Dane DeHaan (Chronicle) loves Aubrey Plaza to death. Even after death. The Fall releasing zombie romantic comedy Life After Beth is looking pretty good.

- Skyfall writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade have been brought in to punch up the script for the latest James Bond film, currently still titled Bond 24.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • BatmanDracula begins in this first trailer for Dracula Untold, due out this October.

- Doctor Who will return on August 23 with the first adventure of the 12th Doctor (Peter Capaldi) in an extra long episode titled “Deep Breath”. The first teaser is above.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Not my bag at all, but I feel like I know some folks who would be excited to see this trailer for the Phineas & Ferb Star Wars Special.

 

  • In a super clever move, tablet case maker Kensington has teamed up with Mead to bring back the Trapper Keeper as a tablet case. I think I might need one for my next tablet.
  • In this very cool video, No Man’s Sky developers Hello Games explain not only how they came upon the idea for the procedurally-generated space adventure, but their high ambitions for the game (which I thought was the coolest thing at E3).
  • In a savvy move, it looks like Sony Europe will be bundling the HD remake of The Last of Us with the PlayStation 4 when it releases later in the Summer. No word on a similar US bundle.
  • Speaking of European releases (which may hint to similar things here in the states), Amazon Germany has listed Batman: Arkham Origins - The Complete Edition, which is probably similar to the “Game of the Year” editions of Arkham Asylum and Arkham City, packing the game with all the DLC for free.
  • Hasbro will be releasing a “Yearbook” set of the original 1984 Transformers, K-REO style (think LEGO) as a San Diego Comic Con exclusive.
  • In a first, Hong Kong toymakers Hot Toys will be making figures in the 1:12 scale - understandable, as they’ve made a full-scale version of The Bat from The Dark Knight Rises, complete with super detailed Batman and Catwoman figures. The price? Seven hundred and eighty goddamned dollars.
  • Titan Merchandise have a packed set of SDCC Exclusives for Doctor Who fans, including the debut of the Geronimo Collection (pictured above)!
  • Marvel Select has released an AWESOME figure of the Incredible Hulk, harking back to his original appearance. (God, I’d love to see this on film, giant Kirby head and all.)
  • With Pley, I can officially say there’s a Netflix for everything, as it allows you to rent and build LEGO sets. Not a bad idea, if your passion is the build.

That’s all for today! Be back tomorrow with another brand-spanking new edition of the Daily Blast! May your week be awesome.

Daily Blast: June 27th, 2014

Aw yes! It’s Friday, and that means we’re finally at the end of the work week, and unfortunately, it’s your last Daily Blast of the week.

It’s a fun edition, although all news will probably pale in comparison to the Pacific Rim 2 announcement.

We’ve got SDCC exclusives, we’ve got Titanfall toys, we’ve got Judd Apatow’s return to TV, LOTS of Batman, and so much more!

CLICK THROUGH! READ THE INTERNETS!

At the top of the post: A shot from the newly opened “The Batman Exhibit”, now a part of the Warner Bros. Studios VIP Tour in Los Angeles. Gotta love that one of the promo shots is from the worst movie in the series.

  • From the subscriber-exclusive cover of this month’s Empire, here’s a closer look at the baddies from Guardians of the Galaxy.

- Predator Update! Shane Black’s new Predator film will actually be a sequel. Not a reboot.

  • Scoot McNairy (Argo) has joined the cast of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. No idea who he is playing though. Let’s mess with the internet and say - my sources tell me, he will be playing Green Lantern Corps member Ch’p!
  • /Film has a look at Gallery Nucleus’s How To Train Your Dragon Art Show. Shield your heart, there’s a LOT of adorable here.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • In no way do I think Into The Storm will be good, or even worth seeing, but look at Matt Walsh (Veep) getting his action chops going!
  • Entertainment Weekly premiered a bunch of character posters for Gotham, FOX’s pre-Batman Batman series. What’s with Poison Ivy’s new name?

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Looks like Matt Damon and Ben Affleck will be reviving their filmmaking reality series, Project Greenlight on HBO. Project submissions open up on July 24 on ProjectGreenlight.com.

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  • This 1980’s styled intro for Game of Thrones is pretty great.

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  • Netflix will be the exclusive US home to Knights of Sidonia, starting July 4. This marks the first Japanese animated series exclusively acquired by the streaming giant.
  • Elden Henson (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay) has joined the cast of Netflix’s Daredevil series, as Foggy Nelson!
  • Rumor has it that Judd Apatow is finally working on a new TV series, his first since Undeclared. Titled Love, word is that it will debut on Hulu, and star Community’s Gillian Jacobs.

 

  • PlatinumGames (of Bayonetta and Metal Gear Rising fame) have produced a downloadable game based on The Legend of Korra. Look for it on PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and PC this Fall. Love that cel-shaded look.
  • Square’s Play Arts Kai line will be getting a mech infusion with this awesome looking figure of a Titan from Titanfall. I really want to play that game. But, alas, I just have a PS4.
  • Designer Eric So has created an adorable vinyl figure of Sin City’s Marv. Look for it in September.
  • San Fran’s own Super7 is teasing some great SDCC exclusives, off of their big ReAction line with Funko.
  • BBC Worldwide Productions France and Canal+ are working together on a one-hour documentary about Daft Punk. I assume someone will be smart enough to bring this to the states. Or, of course, piracy will.

Enjoy your weekend, folks! See you on Monday!

STOP THE APOCALYPSE AGAIN: Guillermo Del Toro Announces 'Pacific Rim 2' For 2017

www.youtube.com/watch

If your dog just got startled, it was from the supersonic pitch of my scream of joy.

Just now shared over social media, director Guillermo Del Toro has confirmed that Pacific Rim 2 will hit theaters on April 7, 2017.

In the video (above), Del Toro confirms not only will there be a sequel, but leading up to the 2017 release, fans can expect an animated series and comic series.

I CANNOT WAIT.

Daily Blast: June 26th, 2014

A busy Wednesday in the world of news means you’ve got yourself a JAM-PACKED Daily Blast for your Thursday morning.

What’s in today’s edition?

Brad Pitt has returned to World War II, Google’s got new tech for pretty much everywhere you are, the first teaser for the new Hunger Games is out, and yes, we actually have a news item about Aretha Franklin.

READ ON, YOU BEAUTIFUL FOOL!

At the top of the post: Thanks to Entertainment Weekly, we have our first look in years at the long in production Mad Max sequel, Mad Max: Fury Road. Don’t get TOO excited though, it doesn’t come out until next Summer.

  • Brad Pitt returns to World War II this Fall in Fury, which looks like a lot less fun of a time than Inglorious Basterds, but still looks like a hell of a movie to see.
  • It appears that Chicago will be home to a George Lucas Museum.
  • Would…you…like…to…remake…a…game? Fresh off of its reference in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the 1980’s film WarGames is looking to be remade.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • CineFix did a really great job of retelling Kill Bill as if it were a classic 2D side-scroller.
  • Looks like Chris Hemsworth (Thor) will be Shane Black’s Doc Savage.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Continuing its interesting propaganda-style promotional campaign, the first teaser trailer for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 is in the style of an official address from President Snow.
  • Ben Kingsley (Iron Man 3) has joined the cast of Jon Favreau’s live-action The Jungle Book. He’ll be voicing Bagheera.
  • The two biggest DC Comics TV over on the CW series have their Fall premiere dates, with The Flash debuting on October 7, and the third season of Arrow kicking off on October 8.
  • Making the rounds across the web is this amazing photo of a bootleg DVD of HBO’s True Detective. Can this version be the show’s next season? Because I am ALL IN.
  • How adorable are these new Street Fighter plushies?

- Infamous: First Light, the DLC add-on to Infamous: Second Son, focusing on anti-hero Fetch, will hit the PS4 on August 26.

  • Yesterday was Google’s I/O conference. A LOT was announced, although Wired has our favorite summary. There’s a new Android update, Android TV, Android Auto, Android Watches - basically, if you’re somewhere, Google is ready to help you compute there.

- Guardians of the Galaxy hype is high over at Marvel Comics. So much so, they’re bringing back the team’s original lineup for a new series called Guardians 3000, written by Dan Abnett with great looking art from Gerardo Sandoval.

  • Funko has announced another batch of San Diego Comic Con exclusives, including a Hoth Luke/Wampa 2-Pack from Star Wars, and my personal favorite, an invisible Predator ReAction figure.
  • LEGO made a clever re-creation of the now historic Star Wars: Episode VII cast shot, this time, in minifigure form!
  • Aretha Franklin is working on a new album! An album made up of covers of songs from iconic female vocalists, most excitingly, the album will be produced by Andre 3000. Talk about an interesting pairing.

That’s it for today, gang. See you tomorrow for your Friday Daily Blast!

Daily Blast: June 25th, 2014

We’re half way through the week, which means we’re just THAT much closer to the long-awaited weekend.

So, why not take a few minutes for yourself, sit back, relax and get caught up on the world of nerdy news.

It’s your Wednesday Daily Blast!

In today’s edition: word on how Interstellar’s going to be rolled out to theaters, the return of Predator, and possible cast members for the next Cohen Brothers movie!

Read on, you crazy diamond.

At the top of the post:  That’d be a Predator. Why? Looks like Predator will be getting a reboot courtesy of director Shane Black (Iron Man 3). He’ll be re-uniting with his old pal, Fred Dekker (Monster Squad) doing script duties.

  • The new trailer for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has released. While I’m getting more used to the Turtles designs (and starting to dig the Shredder design), something about the Turtles voices feels off to me.
  • Ever the fan of proper IMAX presentation, director Christopher Nolan’s next film, Interstellar will be presented in a rare, 70mm film showing in roughly 50 theaters.
  • Looks like Channing Tatum, Ralph Fiennes and Tilda Swinton will join George Clooney and Josh Brolin in Hail, Ceasar!, the next film from the Coen Brothers. That’s an AWESOME cast.
  • We’re getting a bit closer to a film adaptation of Ernie Cline’s pop-culture loving sci-fi novel, Ready Player One. Zak Penn (X-Men: The Last Stand) has been brought in to take a pass on a script.
  • Columbia Pictures has released this stark poster for their Brad Pitt starring World War II film, Fury, due this November.
  • It looks like Sylvester Stallone will don the bandana one more time, for Rambo V. So long as he tears a dude’s throat out again, I’m so in.
  • Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo) has produced an awesome variant cover for Rocket Raccoon #2.
  • /Film recently got an early glimpse of the expansion to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Orlando, and were nice enough to take a look at all the food for us! I’m down for that chocolate chili ice cream.

That’s all for today! Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you tomorrow, for a Thursday edition of the Daily Blast!

Daily Blast: June 24th, 2014

Happy Tuesday, dear readers! I hope today is treating you well!

In today’s Daily Blast: we’ve got special PS4 controllers, even more Michael Bay Ninja Turtles nonsense, a look back at Tim Burton’s Batman on its 25th Anniversary, a history of Space Ghost: Coast to Coast and so much more!

Grab your morning coffee, sit back and relax as we take you through all the awesome the Internet has to offer, in today’s Daily Blast!

At the top of the post: These are the awesome variant covers that Marvel has commissioned Skottie Young to produce for this fall’s Spider-Verse event.

  • Paramount has revealed another character poster for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - of Leonardo - with three more to come (possibly by the time this post goes live!).
  • This year marks the 40th Anniversary of the release of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, which I still consider one of the most unnerving movies I’ve ever seen. So, it’s only fair that a 4k Restoration Print gets toured this August. Check it out if you can, yeah?

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Yesterday marked - believe it or not - the 25th Anniversary of Tim Burton’s Batman. To celebrate, 1989Batman.com uploaded a 20-minute behind the scenes look on the film, which was used to convince investors of what Burton intended to do with the Dark Knight. My, how times have changed.
  • Over the weekend, Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn took to Twitter to confirm that Nathan Fillion (Castle) has a cameo within the film. Who is he playing? No word, besides not Nova.
  • Showcasing the different Districts in a pseudo-propaganda poster is certainly a unique way to promote The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • I don’t feel like The Purge lived up to its awesome concept, but perhaps its sequel, The Purge: Anarchy, will.
  • Blastr.com takes a lengthy look back at what is arguably one of the greatest animated comedy series of all time - Space Ghost: Coast to Coast.
  • Sony has confirmed that the “Wave Blue" DualShock controller for the PlayStation 4 will finally come to the US this Fall. Of course, I already have two controllers.
  • Marvel will celebrate the 75th Anniversary of their company this October with an AMAZING sounding anthology comic, including work from Bruce Timm, Brian Michael Bendis, Chris Samnee, and, naturally, Stan Lee.
  • Appropriate, given that they’re featured so heavily within Transformers: Age of Extinction, but Hasbro will be releasing a San Diego Comic Con exclusive Dinobots set, which decks the new-style Dinosbots in classic colors.
  • Funko has started to unveil their SDCC 2014 exclusives, starting with some Ghostbusters Pop! Vinyl figures (and a special ReAction Rocketeer).
  • Hasbro has announced that the long-lost Marvel Legends figure for Agent Venom will be - of all places - a Walgreen’s exclusive this Fall.
  • No matter how Zach Braff’s new film, Wish I Was Here turns out, at least we got a great new song, “So Now What", from the Shins out of it.

Hope you enjoyed, nerds! See you back tomorrow for your hump day edition of the Daily Blast!

Daily Blast: June 23rd, 2014

Hello and welcome back to your regularly scheduled Daily Blast!

Sorry for the missing Blasts on Thursday and Friday. Real life intervened - although we were able to post about the AWESOME news of Rian Johnson joining the Star Wars family.

Never the less, we’re back in action today, and should be the rest of the week.

What do we have today?

In this Ninja Turtle heavy edition, we’ve got trailers, we’ve got awesome LEGO artwork, we’ve got the latest DC Movie Rumors, and word on a new Pixar short. AND MUCH MUCH MORE!

What are you waiting on? Read this NOW!

At the top of the post: that’s our first real look at Shredder as he appears in the Michael Bay-produced Ninja Turtles film. I dig it.

- Latino-Review.com is reporting that in addition to the other DC Comic films rumored, Ben Affleck’s version of the Dark Knight will get a solo film in The Batman, hitting in 2019. Yes, movies are now planned for that year. Yes, that year is actually real, not just the setting of a sci-fi film.

- Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow is teasing dinosaurs over at his Twitter.

- Pixar has announced Lava as the short to screen prior to Inside Out, their Summer 2015 release.

  • Marvel Studios has signed Jon Spaihts (Prometheus) as the writer for the Doctor Strange movie.
  • Paramount has evidently decided that 2016 is the year of the sequel, with having announced Transformers 5, Star Trek 3, Hanzel & Gretel: Witch Hunters 2, GI Joe 3, Paranormal Activity 5, a new Beverly Hills Cop, and what the hell - a remake of Ben Hur all for that year.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • The final trailer for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is pretty fantastic. I can’t wait!

- Legendary Pictures is releasing an adaptation of the video game Dead Rising, exclusively to Sony’s streaming service, Crackle.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Here’s your first look at Robert Downey Jr’s next big starring role - The Judge.
  • The Breaking Bad spin-off, Better Call Saul got a mixed bag of news: on one hand, it’s been pushed to 2015. On the other, it has already been picked up for a second season by AMC!
  • Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toon has been a smashing success. So much so, it’s been picked up for a fourth season. However, it will be with a notable casting change. Seth Green (Robot Chicken) will be taking over from Jason Biggs as Leonardo.

- This really awesome print inspired by the 1966 Batman TV series will be a San Diego Comic Con exclusive. Why must they always get the cool stuff?

- Lifetime is making a movie going behind the scenes of Saved by the Bell. Why does the first cast shot look like a Porn Parody?

- Viz has announced that the new Sailor Moon series, Sailor Moon Crystal, will stream online the same time it airs in Japan, starting July 5th.

- Rosario Dawson has joined the cast of Marvel/Netflix’s new Daredevil series, a choice sure to set fanboy hearts a flutter. After Clerks 2, I don’t blame them.

  • The long-awaited (by me at least) new-gen upgrade of the 2D luchadore platformer Guacamelee, titled Guacamelee: Super Turbo Championship Edition will release this July.
  • With the blessing (and involvement) of Quentin Tarantino, DC Comics and Dynamite Comics are teaming up to bring us the unexpected crossover of Django and Zorro, by Matt Wagner (Grendel).
  • Sanrio and DC Comics will team up to bring the “Gotham City Sirens" (Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy and Catwoman) to Hello Kitty merchandise.
  • Amazon has revealed their long-awaited smartphone, the Fire Phone. It seems like a great deal, if you’re already ingrained in the Amazon ecosystem. But personally? Doesn’t interest me, even with the cool new 3D camera technology.
  • The hybrid building block/augmented reality gaming approach of the LEGO Fusion line seems like the future of the classic toy.
  • Factory Entertainment is bringing what I believe to be the first-ever Archer action figure to San Diego Comic Con as an exclusive.
  • Funko POP Vinyl goes Japan with a Dragonball Z line.
  • It’s not LEGO, but this line of K’NEX sets using the Plants vs. Zombies license is pretty cool.
  • Kaiyodo has released official press images for their Japan-Only Teenage Mutant Ninja Turles line, part of their ongoing Revoltech series.
  • Titan Merchandise will follow-up their line of vinyl figures inspired by Breaking Bad and Doctor Who with a set based on the first Alien film.
  • The Hero Complex Gallery has teamed with artist Dan Shearn to put on “LEGO Memories (Or a Man-Child’s Recollection of the 80"²s Through Lego)“, a fantastic art-show mixing the LEGO mini-figure style and classic 1980’s films.

- I love this line of custom-built LEGO Heroes on Couches, by Angus MacLane (of Pixar!)

  • Here’s a better look at the next two Transformers Masterpiece figures, Bumblebee & Ultra Magnus!
  • Ben & Jerry’s has announced their first two flavors in their Saturday Night Live series, inspired by “Gilly" and “Lazy Sunday".

That’s it for today! Be back tomorrow with another Daily Blast! The Daily Blast…it’s for your face!

RUMOR: Rian Johnson to Write/Direct Star Wars Episode VIII & IX [Updated]

Take this with a grain of salt, as it hasn’t come direct from Lucasfilm/Disney just yet, but…

Deadline.com is reporting that Rian Johnson has been appointed to follow JJ Abrams, and not only direct, but also write the next two main-line Star Wars films, Episode VIII and Episode IX.

This continues the line of rising talent being brought to the franchise by Lucasfilm, with Godzilla’s Gareth Edwards and Chronicle’s Josh Trank being assigned to the “extended universe" Star Wars films.

As a huge fan of Rian Johnson’s other films - Brick, The Brothers Bloom and Looper - I can only hope these rumors are true. More as we have it.

UPDATE - The Wrap indicates he will just be writing the treatment for Episode IX.

Daily Blast: June 18th, 2014

In today’s Daily Blast….

YET ANOTHER Resident Evil movie! A new look at Expendables 3! More Scooby-Doo! And…the best cat-based video game ever.

Happy Wednesday! Let’s do this!

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Is it weird that the person I’m most excited to see in The Expendables 3 is Kelsey Grammer?

- Scooby-Doo is getting a reboot. Because, well, it’s been a while since a new movie, I guess.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • This international trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy features a bunch of new footage. Personally, I’m holding out from seeing anything more, but enjoy!

www.youtube.com/watch

- Transformers: The Premake is a unique look at the creation of a blockbuster film, and also the interaction between a large studio and its audience. Definitely worth a watch.

  • While I still have no interest in the Heroes Return miniseries on NBC, fans would be happy to hear that Jack Coleman will be a part of the series, reprising his role as HRG (Horn Rimmed Glasses).

  • Continuing the reboot train, but a more promising one, the BBC will bring back Danger Mouse in 2015.
  • First-person cat simulator game Catlateral Damage is going for Kickstarter funding. At just over 50% funding with 23 days to go, this looks like it’s going to happen, but if you wish to try a web version of the game, you can here.

  • The “I’m Not A Hipster” Update hit Grand Theft Auto Online yesterday, including hipster style clothing and cars, in addition to new missions for the online expansion for Grand Theft Auto V.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Zach Braff produced Video Games: The Movie, a new documentary about the current world of video games and the history that lead up to it. Look for it on VOD July 15, with a limited theatrical run starting July 18.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Team Fortress 2 is getting a new update, called Love & War, which among other things, includes new dancing taunts. To celebrate it, Valve has released a new animated short.
  • 90’s Comics Fans, get excited! Christopher Priest and M.D. Bright are returning to Valiant Comics to pick up where they left off with Quantum & Woody, with the original run being collected in a large-format hardcover.
  • This year’s Star Wars Hallmark Keepsake Ornament will be of LEGO Boba Fett.
  • OK Go continues their run of inventive music videos with this new clip for “The Writing’s On the Wall”, off their new album Hungry Ghosts.

Have a great day and see you tomorrow!

Daily Blast: June 17th, 2014

It’s Tuesday, June 17th - we’ve got singing Troll dolls, Draculas, the return of the Powerpuff Girls, an update on the American version of The Raid and some sad NBA stars.

Strap in - it’s time for your Daily Blast!

At the top of the post: Yes, they really are making an Angry Birds Transformers game, complete with “Autobirds” and “Deceptihogs”. I suppose it only makes sense given that Hasbro’s been making all of the toys for them…

- Mudbloods, the first documentary about those who play a real-life version of Quidditch (from Harry Potter) is due in theaters and on VOD this October.

  • Anna Kendrick will star in the animated musical Trolls for Dreamworks. Based on the bare-assed toys, look for it in November 2016.

  • Here’s our first look at Dracula Untold, a Batman Begins-styled prequel telling the story of Vlad the Impaler. Luke Evans stars.

  • Looks like Harrison Ford’s ankle injury will keep him out from Star Wars: Episode VII filming for two months.

  • Steven Spielberg has picked his next two projects - expect his untitled Cold War project (starring Tom Hanks, with a script from the Coen Brothers) on October 16, 2015, with an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The BFG on July 1, 2016.

  • The American remake of The Raid is already sounding less awful. Frank Grillo (last seen in Captain America: The Winter Soldier) has signed to star.

  • Concept artist Kevin Jenkins has released much of his work from Edge of Tomorrow to his website. It’s a very cool look at how the exo-suits evolved through development.

  • Remember The People vs. George Lucas, the look at Star Wars fans interesting relationship with the creator of the films? Get ready for a sequel. The People vs. George Lucas Episode II is now in production, for a release in December 2015. Just in time for Episode VII.

  • This is clever: to promote Transformers: Age of Extinction, Paramount has teamed up with ride sharing service Uber. Be in the right city at the right time, and your ride will be in Optimus freakin' Prime!
  • Cartoon Network has announced that The Powerpuff Girls will return with a brand new series in 2016.

 

 

  • Weirdly enough, the Fisher-Price Little People will get their own TV show in 2015.

  • Early word of mouth on Gotham, FOX’s pre-Batman Batman series, is actually super positive.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • In a new twist, Jimmy Kimmel Live decided to have NBA stars read mean tweets about them, instead of celebrities. The response is just as hilarious.
  • Dreamworks Animation has launched its own YouTube channel. Called DreamWorksTV, the channel will feature original programming, and launched yesterday with videoblogs from Shrek. Really.

  • The new Nissan Concept 2020 car is totally rad.
  • Genesis is reuniting! …For a documentary.

  • The Gaslight Anthem has announced their fifth album - Get Hurt - for an August 16 release.

CONTEST: Win 'The LEGO Movie' On Blu-Ray Combo Pack!

This post brought to you by Warner Bros./PartnersHub.

Gang - The LEGO Movie is one of our movies of this year, and appropriately, we’re SUPER stoked for the release of the movie on Blu-Ray tomorrow, June 17th.

But what if I told you YOU COULD WIN IT FOR FREE?!

That’s right, our pals at WB Home Entertainment and PartnersHub have authorized us at Blast-O-Rama to give away one copy of The LEGO Movie on Blu-Ray Combo Pack.

How do you win? Easy! The below widget allows you to create a 6 second LEGO GIF Video, which is then made available on YouTube. Just reply to this post with your YouTube link, and one randomly selected person will be chosen to win The LEGO Movie absolutely free!

When you reply, please be sure to have an email address listed, and please be in the continental United States. Thanks!

And remember, EVERYTHING is awesome!

Entries will be accepted through Monday, June 23rd. Good luck!

Daily Blast: June 16th, 2014

LEGO! Robot Hybrids! Weird Al! Portable Game Machines! And more!

That’s what we’ve got to kick off your week, with your Monday Daily Blast!

  • At the top of the post: in time for the DVD/Blu-Ray release tomorrow, LEGO builder Ryan Ziegelbauer was commissioned to build a LEGO model of Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel. The above video shows how he did it.

  • In a savvy move, Fox has assigned one of the writers for HBO’s Game of Thrones, Bryan Cogman to write the film adaptation of collectible card game Magic: The Gathering.

- Looks like Jon Chu (GI Joe: Retaliation) will direct Now You See Me 2. Is it too much to ask that he brings Dwayne Johnson to THIS franchise, as well?

- The Studio Ghibli documentary The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness will receive a US release. This is a definite must see!

- Shane Black (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) has completed the script for his next film, The Nice Guys. Word is, Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling are being courted to star. Me, I don’t care who’s in it. After Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, I’m in for ANYTHING he does.

  • Hopefully better than the awful US movie version, Astro Boy is getting a new lease on life with the forthcoming Astro Boy Reboot series, a combined France/Monaco/Japan production.

- NBC is developing a TV mini-series event about The Beatles by the team behind The Tudors. Didn’t we say all we had to say with The Beatles Anthology, though?

- Heavy Metal and Weta Workshop are teaming up to bring Image Comics’ Rat Queens to the small screen as an animated series. The comic didn’t do much for me, but I know the series has a rabid fanbase who I’m sure will devour this news.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • If he weren’t smug enough already on-screen, Jeopardy’s Alex Trebek now holds the Guinness World Record for “most game show episodes hosted by the same presenter.“
  • Luigi isn’t quite giving his death stare, but hey, the next McDonald’s Happy Meal toys are for Mario Kart 8!

  • The open-source nature of Valve’s Steam Machine means we’ll see boxes of all sorts of shapes and sizes. Who wants the hand-held SteamBoy?

- Netflix has itself a fancy new logo and look. I kinda like it.

- Word is, this is a look at the iPhone 6, which will come in 2 sizes - a 4.7 inch screen and a 5.5 inch screen. What does it say about me that for my next iPad, I’m interested in the smaller model, but if true, I’m kinda into a bigger iPhone?

  • Among its SDCC 2014 Exclusives, Mattel will be releasing the first ever Star Wars Hot Wheel, based off of Darth Vader!

  • Titan Merchandise - they who made the blind-boxed Doctor Who figures - will be branching out a bit with their next line of vinyl collectible figures. Behold the Breaking Bad Heisenberg Collection! Yeah Bitch!

  • This past weekend was the Tokyo Toy Show, and among the many Transformers showcased was this ridiculous (yet still awesome) Optimus Prime/EVA UNIT-01 hybrid.

- I love this custom LEGO Arcade Machine build by Andrew Lee.

  • In an odd colliding of worlds, looks like Ben & Jerry’s will be releasing some Saturday Night Live inspired flavors.
  • Look for a new album from “Weird” Al Yankovic - possibly his last - on July 15th.

Be back tomorrow with another installment of your…Daily Blast! Be sure to stick around here at Blast-O-Rama for any big breaking news!

Jason Momoa To Play Aquaman in 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice'

It’s arguably one of the worst kept secrets in Hollywood, as it’s been rumored for some time, but overnight, HitFix has confirmed that Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones) will appear as Aquaman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, before playing the role proper in Justice League.

It’s certainly a unique choice to play Arthur Curry, but also a very Zack Snyder-y pick.

According to Drew McWeeny at HitFix, the plan is for Aquaman to be particularly pissed off, given the way the World Engine wrecked the Indian Ocean in Man of Steel. Looks like Batman v Superman will be a film of consequence, and I - while still reserved about some of their choices - am looking forward to seeing how it plays out.

Here’s hoping Khal Drogo gets a sweet hook hand!

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice hits theaters on May 6th, 2016.

Daily Blast: June 13th, 2014

In today’s Daily Blast: A creepy CGI Paddington Bear! Michael Keaton is…Birdman? Two Tom Hardys! Apple’s AWESOME Cafeteria! And Ice Cube yells nice things!

All that and more - just read on, dear reader!

www.youtube.com/watch

  • In the upcoming October release Birdman, Michael Keaton plays…a washed up actor best known for playing a superhero. Where’d the fourth wall go?

  • Oof. Looks like Harrison Ford got injured by the Millennium Falcon on the set of Star Wars: Episode VII.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Home brings together an alien and an earthling in Dreamworks Animations next original film, due in March 2015.

  • What’s better than one Tom Hardy? TWO Tom Hardy’s! And that’s what we’re getting in the forthcoming British gangster film Legend.

  • The Dwayne-Johnson-Punches-A-Lion-In-The-Face-Epic Hercules will get an IMAX 3D release now.

  • Rumor says that the box office for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was so underwhelming that The Amazing Spider-Man 3 is getting pushed back to 2017.

  • Tumblr is about to start loving country music: Tom Hiddleston (Thor: The Dark World) has signed on to star as country legend Hank Williams in I Saw The Light.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • With a realistic CG bear, Paddington is kind of a freaky looking adaptation of the children’s book series.

  • Did you guys know Robert Downey Jr. does movies OTHER than Iron Man? Look for him as a lawyer defending his father in a murder case in this October’s The Judge.

The last Guardians of the Galaxy character poster has hit Fandango - it’s Chris Pratt as Star-Lord.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Denzel Washington bring vigilante justice in this trailer for his remake of The Equalizer.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Dreamworks Animation is giving the Penguins of Madagascar their own film, due out this November. The Madagascar franchise may never end.
  • The Angry Birds franchise continues to grow with Angry Birds Epic, the first RPG in the grumpy avian game series.
  • The Kickstarter darling Broken Age has now arrived on the iPad.

  • That’s some high quality E3 reporting, Los Angeles Times!
  • It’s wise cracks versus trick arrows, as Hawkeye vs. Deadpool kicks off this October.
  • Hope you aren’t too attached to True Detective. Creator Nic Pizzolatto says he can only see the anthology series going for three seasons.

  • Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever hits Lifetime this Christmas. Airing at 14:59, I assume.

  • Cameron Crowe goes back to the rock music well with his new series Roadies, which has been picked up by Showtime (and produced by JJ Abrams' Bad Robot).

  • Bumblebee takes the lead role in the forthcoming new Transformers: Robots in Disguise series.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • From last night’s Jimmy Kimmel Live, here’s Ice Cube saying nice things angrily.
  • OK, so Apple has the coolest cafeteria ever.
  • Mattel has extended their agreement with DC Comics to be their primary toy licensee. Expect toys for the comics, movies such as Batman v Superman, and even the Arrow and Flash TV shows in the near future.
  • Weezer’s new album - which I will continue to hope will be the next Pinkerton, even though no album since has even touched it - will be titled Everything Will Be Alright In The End.

So ends another Daily Blast! See you back here on Monday!

RUMOR: DC Comics To Announce Film Plans Through 2018 At Comic-Con

One-time head of Deadline.com, Nikki Finke launched her new website today, and her first scoop is certainly to the interest of comic book fans.

According to the angry Miss Finke, Warner Bros and DC Comics will be announcing a full slate of connected comic book films through 2018 at Comic Con International this Summer.

The rumored line-up, which she stresses is in flux, is as follows:

Accordingly, we should expect to see Cyborg, Flash and Green Lantern in Batman v Superman.

What say you? It’s a very aggressive schedule, but I think if done right, this could be a great thing in theaters alongside the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

One Year In Advance, Our First Look at 'Jurassic World'!

One year from today, June 12th, 2015, Jurassic World will hit theaters.

The long awaited fourth installment in the Jurassic Park franchise, director Colin Trevorrow (Safety Not Guaranteed) returns to Isla Nubar with Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas-Howard in tow.

The AV Club got an exclusive look at the first images from the movie, which we’ve mirrored below, which show no dinosaurs, but underline how perfect Chris Pratt will be as the hero here. I know I’m excited!

[gallery ids=“18512,18511,18510”]

BRING ON THE DINOS!

Daily Blast: June 11th & 12th, 2014

A special double-sized edition - since the service I use to gather all these stories was down - this edition of the Daily Blast is jam packed full of goodness.

We’ve got the latest team-up of Rogen and Franco, the weirdest mech ever, an amazing NASA spaceship, and some more gaming news from E3.

Strap in, here is your DAILY BLAST!

  • The surreal poster is up top, but here’s the first trailer for The Interview, the latest reteaming of James Franco and Seth Rogen, where Franco plays a talk show host who is recruited by the CIA to kill Kim Jong-un!

  • Despite dying in the first film, Sigourney Weaver has signed on to appear in the three (yes, three) forthcoming Avatar sequels as a new character. I smell evil twin!

www.youtube.com/watch

  • The new trailer for Sin City: A Dame To Kill For is looking pretty darn good.

  • It has no title, but Kristen Wiig will be making her directoral debut with a film written by her and her Bridesmaids collaborator Annie Mumolo.

  • Appropriately enough, Ice Cube’s son O’Shea Jackson, Jr. has signed on to play Ice Cube in the NWA bio-flick Straight Out of Compton.

  • Two more Guardians of the Galaxy character posters have hit the web: Gamora (above) and Drax.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • I’m pretty much always in when it comes to Laika’s movies (Coraline, Paranorman), so obviously, this trailer for The Boxtrolls had me in from frame number one.

  • Congratulations, Napoleon Dynamite - you’re 10 years old. Have an ugly ass statue.

- Sonic the Hedgehog is getting his own movie. It just has to be better than Super Mario Bros, right?

- Expect a 10 minute “super serious” cut of 22 Jump Street as a bonus on the Blu-Ray.

  • Wonder why you can’t pre-order The LEGO Movie at Amazon? Yeah, they’re in the middle of a contract pissing match with Warner Bros.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Celebrating 30 years of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Paramount will be releasing a documentary, titled Turtle Power.
  • It shouldn’t come as a surprise, but with the announcement of Grand Theft Auto 5 hitting PlayStation 4 this fall, it’s also hitting the Xbox One and PC.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Yeah, I think I’m going to have to pick up Alien: Isolation when it hits this October.

www.youtube.com/watch

  • The real question about the new Doom game: will IDDQD still work?!

- IRON FIST IS GONNA BE IN DISNEY INFINITY 2.0! OH MAN!

- When you’re asked “Why aren’t there female characters?” in your game, never ever answer “It’s too hard!"

  • It sounds confusing at times, but this upcoming Avengers arc, “Time Runs Out”, where Avengers and New Avengers jump ahead eight months in time sounds really cool.

  • Unsurprisingly, with his Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. integration, Deathlok is getting his own Marvel ongoing.
  • I’ve never been an Avatar: The Last Airbender guy, but I feel like you guys are gonna be stoked about the trailer for the third season of The Legend of Korra.

- The Lion King is 20 years old, you guys. That means it is now officially time to make it relevant to a new generation, which the new The Lion Guard cartoon aims to do.

  • Netflix will be rebooting The Magic School Bus as a CG animated series.

www.youtube.com/watch

- Stanford researchers have actually looked into the mathematical possibility of the AMAZING dick joke from Silicon Valley’s season finale. It all adds up.

- I want this NASA Enterprise ship to become real. Keep doing the good work, Dr. White.

  • The Nest officially has a challenger for high-tech thermostat supremacy - The Honeywell Lyric.

  • For some reason, I was intensely fascinated by this story of Virgin Atlantic re-designing its food trays to save on fuel costs.

- The New Pornographer’s will return in August with a new album titled Brill Bruisers.

  • Death From Above 1979 will release their first album in 10 years, The Physical World, in September.

  • Amazon has officially decided to take on Spotify with their own streaming solution - Amazon Prime Music.
  • Bandai’s SH Figuarts line is getting a Star Wars shot to the arm with some awesome looking Darth Vader and Stormtrooper figures.

  • This is the weirdest goddamned robot I’ve ever seen.

  • ThinkGeek just won the heart of every video game nerd EVER.

  • Never thought Kratos should look so adorable. Good job, Funko.
  • #FastFoodArmsRace: Wendy’s New Zealand has decided the only thing better than a Baconator is THREE different Baconators.

  • Little Debbie is now bringing you the snacks of the sea. Because why not?

That’s all for today! See you tomorrow for ANOTHER Daily Blast!

Older, Not Wiser: 'Dumb & Dumber To' Trailer Premiere!

www.youtube.com/watch

Shown last night on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, the first trailer for the sequel to 1994’s Dumb & Dumber, the appropriately titled Dumb & Dumber To looks like that Jeff Daniels and Jim Carrey are picking up exactly where they left off.

Besides, where else would you expect to see a dusty vagina gag?

We’ll see how the Farley Brothers' latest madcap adventure through gross out humor goes when it hits theaters on November 14th.

E3: Nintendo Shoots...And Scores

One of the biggest question marks heading into this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo was the status of Nintendo.

After a Phoenix-like rise last generation with the massively successful Wii console, Nintendo has had a bumpy road these past few years.  From the less than stellar initial performance of the handheld 3DS (which turned to success after time) to the awful sales performance of the Wii U (which I’d argue is due to customer confusion), and most alarmingly a number of successive quarters losing money, things are looking grim for arguably the company most think of when you say the word “video games”.

That said, at E3 2015, Nintendo didn’t address these issues. They just gave us what they do best. Games.

As opposed to the standard opulent press conferences which serve as equal parts hype machine and stockholder’s call, somehow mixing new trailers with sales information and stats on hardware, Nintendo decided they’d rather pitch right to the fans, with an online only streaming event.

Based on the responses across the Twittersphere, I’d say it worked.

Among the things announced (I again link to Polygon, as their coverage this year of E3 is absolutely KILLING it):

The issue remains - why buy a Wii U?

If you love just Nintendo games, you probably already have one, or are going to buy one for some combination of Super Smash Bros., Mario Kart 8 or The Legend of Zelda. But those same hardcore’s probably will own a Wii U in addition to an Xbox One or PlayStation 4.

And that remains the biggest problem. Much like in the era of the GameCube, or the later years of the Wii, Nintendo is having a hard time striking the interest of developers AND audiences, to make them a focus. Hell, UbiSoft even admitted this week that they have games ready for the Wii U, but the audience isn’t there to bother releasing it.

As great as the lineup showcased was, Nintendo has a tremendous hurdle to climb. Hell, I’d love to play all of those games. But personally, I can’t justify $300 for a system featuring handful of polished games and a large tablet controller.

The clock is ticking. The pace is picking up. Lets hope that Mario can rush to the end of the level and achieve victory once more.

Breaking: Vincent D'Onofrio is Wilson Fisk on Marvel's Daredevil on Netflix

We promised we’d still share big news whenever it happens!

Joining Charlie Cox (playing Matt Murdock/Daredevil), Marvel has announced veteran character actor Vincent D’Onofrio will be playing the legendary Kingpin, Wilson Fisk in the forthcoming Netflix Daredevil series.

D’Onofrio is no stranger to both crime and episodic television, having had a storied career including a memorable run on Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

Look for Daredevil to hit Netflix in 2015.

Daily Blast: June 10th, 2014

A new look at Disney’s Big Hero 6, a creepy 3D Spongebob, Rooney Mara and David Fincher news, and the MOST EXTREME SUNNY DELIGHT EVER cap off today’s Daily Blast. Strap in and read on!

The real stars of Guardians of the Galaxy? Groot and Rocket, for sure. Fandango has the first of a series of character posters coming this week, and the best characters take center stage first.

Now that they’ve blown people away with the Jump Street and LEGO movies, Phil Lord and Chris Miller are discussing a Clone High movie. How do I kickstart the shit out of this idea?

With Josh Brolin and George Clooney joining the new Cohen Brothers film, Hail Caesar!, is there any reason to NOT see it?

Looks like Rooney Mara and director David Fincher might re-team on the spy film Red Sparrow. I’m in!

The Franco Brothers (Dave and James) are making a movie about the making of The Room. I think we’ve reached peak Franco.

Speaking of Dave Franco, Neighbors was one of the true surprises of the Summer so far. Discussions have started for a sequel, but I have to ask - what loose ends were left to necessitate one?

Joshua Jackson really wants a Mighty Ducks 4. You and me, Josh. You and me and that evil Icelandic hockey team.

I really dig these street art styled posters for the new Ninja Turtles movie.

ACK! 3D SPONGEBOB IS CREEPY!

I really love the art style of the forthcoming PS4 indie title, Night in the Woods.

To the surprise of few, the sequel to first-person mech vs. pilots shooter Titanfall is in development, and the one-time Xbox exclusive title should be available for the PlayStation 4 as well this go around.

Look for more gaming news in our look at yesterday’s E3 Press Conferences!

Apparently Apple went straight to the FDA when they started designing the HealthKit integration in iOS 8. Savvy move.

Comedy Central is smart - they just renewed Inside Amy Schumer, TripTank and (praise the lord) Review.

Sunny Delight apparently isn’t cutting it anymore, so in their ongoing battle against Purple Stuff, they’ve stepped up to the plate with a new energy drink - the aggressively named SunnyD X.

See you tomorrow with more news you can use from all around the web! Let us know in the comments how you’re enjoying these Daily Blasts!

E3 - Highlights of a LONG Day of Press Conferences

The first, yet unofficial day of E3 was a jam packed adventure, with press conferences from Microsoft, Electronic Arts, UbiSoft and Sony.

While each company had their pros and cons, one thing became clear - for those of us who play games, 2014-2015 will be an amazing time.

After the jump - my brief thoughts on each press conference, along with my picks for the best looking games shown so far!

I’m not going to try to recap each press conference for you - there are better teams to do so.

Personally, I love Polygon’s coverage, so that’s who I’ll be linking.

Electronic Arts: Oof. EA had a rough hand this year. On one hand, they showcased many potentially great sounding games that are currently in development. That said, most of their games showcased were very early in development, and in turn, it was hard to get excited about anything tangible. I am quite excited for Criterion’s multi-vehicled racer (which is yet to have a title - like I said, it was early in development), I know the Mass Effect fans were excited to see that a new game is coming, but honestly - the big deal was tossed out early - Star Wars: Battlefront will be a license to print money. Savvy move with the Battlefield: Hardline beta giveaway, though.

UbiSoft: UbiSoft’s press conferences always feel odd to me. Perhaps it’s because their games are showcased similarly in the Microsoft and Sony press conferences, making UbiSoft’s feel unnecessary. That said, fans of their franchises should be excited as the new installments of the Assassin’s Creed and FarCry franchises are certainly aimed to please.

Sony: Wow. I realize I may have an innate bias, as I am a PlayStation 4 owner, and in turn, Sony’s my dog in the race, but boy did they ever come out swinging last night. TONS of incredible new games were showcased, and while yes, many aren’t Sony specific, Sony is locking in exclusive content, or a period of timed exclusivity, or being the only console for certain games. In an era where game developers need to be able to branch out beyond a single system to remain profitable, it’s smart to pull together these kinds of deals, and the PlayStation 4 looks to flourish over the next year. They’re clearly going all in on Destiny, with an exclusive alpha period (starting this week), having the beta first (in July), getting exclusive content, and even releasing a special bundle. I certainly hope it pays off, as Destiny is the game I’m most excited for so far this gaming generation. But that wasn’t enough, oh no. They showcased an extremely wide breadth of games, from A-List third-party games (Batman: Arkham Knight), to console exclusives (Uncharted 4 was teased) to remarkable indies (No Man’s Sky), and even a commitment to original programming with the announcement of the PlayStation-only Powers series, due to hit PSN at the end of the year.  There truly was something for everyone, even if moments - especially the Vita and PlayStation Now discussions - floundered.

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Sunset Overdrive is the first Xbox One exclusive that has intrigued me.

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After loving the reboot, I am very excited to continue with Rise of the Tomb Raider.

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Star Wars: Battlefront is going to be HUGE. And beautiful.

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By the team that created Journey, ABZU looks like a can’t miss.

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Yeah, I am 100% in for Destiny in September.

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Holy hell. LOOK AT HOW PRETTY Batman: Arkham Knight is!

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Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain continues to look fantastic.

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And finally - from a team of just four people (Hello Games), No Man’s Sky isn’t even a game that I knew I wanted, but now that I’ve seen it, it’s the only thing I think I want!

It’s another long day of gaming announcements today, with the big press conference being digital only - from Nintendo. Here’s hoping we have another day of awesome game reveals. It’s a good time to be a gamer!

CONTEST: Help Name The New SNICKERS Bar And Win Free Stuff!

This post is sponsored by Snickers.

A delicious new SNICKERS® Bar is coming. It has more peanuts, more caramel, and more chocolate. It has more of everything people love most about SNICKERS — except nougat and a name. Mars Chocolate North America has announced that for the first time YOU will have the opportunity to help name the newest product from SNICKERS!

The as-of-now unnamed bar includes a single delicious layer of crunchy roasted peanuts and smooth caramel perfectly blended and enrobed in milk chocolate. And fans get to name it. You can visit the SNICKERS Facebook page (www.facebook.com/snickers), through June 13, 2014, to choose from one of five possible names:

Just comment on this post with what you picked, and you’ll be entered to win a SNICKERS Voting Prize Pack that includes a SNICKERS bar, A SNICKERS BITES pack, a SNICKERS Almond bar, a SNICKERS Peanut Butter Squared bar, a SNICKERS Rockin’ Nut Road Bar, and a pair of movie tickets!

Totally rad, right? You only have until June 15th to enter, so get to voting, and we’ll randomly pick one commentor to win the Snickers Voting Prize Pack! It’s that easy.

Please note, this is only open to people in the continental United States, and be sure to fill out the email field! No email to reach you, you can’t win! Good luck!

Daily Blast: June 9th, 2014

Mark Hamill is ready for Episode VII! All sorts of games are getting hinted at toward E3! Taco Bell is combining all of their foods! And we got a bunch of Spider-Men! Get ready for that, and more, in today’s Daily Blast!

  • Remember those awesome fan-made Guardians of the Galaxy posters on Friday, made by the Poster Posse? They released a second round, JUST as awesome as the first. Check ‘em out!

  • Director Josh Boone (The Fault In Our Stars) is ready to take on an adaptation of Stephen King’s The Stand. His goal? A three-hour, R-rated adaptation with an A-List cast. Shooting for the stars, there.

  • You can’t stop the powerhouse duo of director David O. Russell and the Internet’s favorite actress Jennifer Lawrence. After two big time back-to-back collaborations in The Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle, they’ll reteam for the December 2015 release, Joy. Yep, it’s about that mop lady.

  • Now that Ant-Man is set, Marvel Studios is continuing to work on Doctor Strange. Now rumored to be playing the mystic? Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hardy. I’d love either.

  • If you loved John Carter like I did, prepare to get your heart broken - director Andrew Stanton revealed title treatments for sequels Gods of Mars and Warlord of Mars on Twitter.

  • PACIFIC RIM 2 IS IN THE WORKS OH MY GOD
  • The remixed edition of Kingdom Hearts 2, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 is set for a PS3 release on December 2nd. But wait, what’s that at the end of the trailer?!

  • The Last Guardian still isn’t cancelled, you guys. No matter how many rumors there are.

  • I think it’s pretty obvious that we’ll see Mirror’s Edge 2 at E3 this week.

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  • Microsoft may have abandoned the Kinect, but developers sure haven’t. Harmonix (of Rock Band fame) looks to drop Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved - for the Xbox One and Xbox 360 - this October.

  • Speaking of Disney, Disney Infinity 2.0 (now with Marvel!) is shaping up pretty nice.

  • Basketball fans! You probably don’t read this. But if you did, you’d probably be excited to hear that EA Sports is ready to release NBA Live 15 on October 7th. After last year’s apology inducing debacle, they intend for this years edition to be such things as good, and playable.

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  • Nerds with free time always rule. Especially when they decide to do crazy things like recreate the truck chase from Terminator 2: Judgement Day in Grand Theft Auto V.

  • Want to play as every Spider-Man ever? That seems to be the goal of the forthcoming iOS endless runner, Spider-Man Unlimited. Look for it in September.
  • Just before the “bringing every Spider-Man together” event “Spider-Verse” in November, Marvel Comics will be releasing a 5 issue miniseries titled Edge of Spider-Verse in September. Expect all sorts of alternate reality Spider-Men, including one created by My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way, and most interestingly, Gwen Stacy: Spider-Woman!

  • Calvin and Hobbes creator Bill Waterson shocked the world this week, returning to the world of comics, to do some fill-in art in the series Pearls Before Swine.
  • Have about a grand you want to blow? Awesome - looks like Hot Toys has a whole bunch of Guardians of the Galaxy 1:6 Scale figures on the way for your shelves, to the delight of your credit card company.

  • I never thought I’d want a set of Glam Rock Transformers, but the SDCC exclusive Transformers 30th Anniversary Tour Edition Action Figure Collection is amazing.
  • If you’re a Mystery Science Theater 3000 fan, you’ll be sure to love artist Steve Seck’s print “Where’s Servo?" It’s chock full of MST3K references and easter eggs, plus, you know, it’s just a really cool print.

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  • Hey guys, do you remember the crazy days of 2013? SyFy sure does, as they’re trying to recapture lightning in a bottle with Sharknado 2: The Second One. The teaser trailer is above.
  • Holy 90’s Revival, Batman! Matt Sharp (of Weezer fame) is reviving his solo project, The Rentals, this fall. The new album will be titled Lost In Alphaville, and the first single, “Thought of Sound” is sounding pretty good.
  • #FastFoodArmsRace: A Chipotle secret menu item has gone legit, as Taco Bell adds the Quesarito (that’s a Quesadilla and a Burrito in one food thing) to their menu on June 9th. Hey! That’s today!

Edge of Tomorrow (2014): A Review

It’s easy in this day and age of massive comic book franchises and world ending catastrophes, sometimes, all a good summer blockbuster needs is a decent concept, some fun characters and great action. Luckily for us, Edge of Tomorrow has all that and more in spades.

Edge of Tomorrow focuses on Major William Cage (Tom Cruise). Cage is, at best, the most smarmy PR person you’d ever meet.  Serving as the PR head for the UDF - United Defense Forces - his job has been to promote and otherwise push the war effort as a talking head on all of the cable news networks. The world has been embroiled in a war with an alien species, called the Mimics, for the past five years.  Cage has done his job well, but when he decides that he doesn’t want to cover “Operation: Downfall”, a major final offensive from the front line, he gains the ire of UDF Commander General Brigham, is stripped of his title, and made a grunt soldier, just in time for this war’s version of Normandy.

Understandably - things don’t go well. Cage is stronger with his mouth than with his braun, and he dies almost immediately on the battlefield. But in an interesting twist - each time he dies, he returns back to the beginning, able to re-live the battle, advancing further and further on each try. In short, his life has become a level in a video game.

Cage quickly finds himself aligned with the face of the battleground, an extremely adept solider with secrets of her own, Rita Vrataski, the “Angel of Verdun” (or “Full Metal Bitch”) works with Cage to not only make him battle ready, but also to complete her own mission of finally ending the Mimic threat.

Directed by Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity), Edge of Tomorrow is a gritty, hard nosed action thriller that pays homage to countless sci-fi films before it - movies such as Starship Troopers, Aliens, and of course, the comedy classic Groundhog Day. The movie mixes heart racing action with a surprising sense of humor, keeping you captivated through every attempt and re-try. There’s almost a syncopated rhythm to how the film works. “Live. Die. Repeat.” is more than a tag line, it also perfectly lays out the films plot, and somehow, never feels bogged down in each new life for Major Cage.

What gives the movie such life is its wonderful cast. Cruise is the perfect lead for the film. His movie star charisma is brilliantly subverted by playing such a slimy asshole in Cage, and those who have lost the love due to his antics over recent years will love seeing Cruise die time and time again. It’s an extremely self-aware role for him, and he lives up to every minute. The real joy of the movie is Emily Blunt, finally showcasing what Marvel Studios lost when they weren’t able to secure her as Black Widow, and I cannot wait to see the legions of fans Rita Vrataski gains with the release of this film. At the least, between her exoskeleton and helicopter blade sword, I’m sure we’re going to see cosplayers a plenty this summer. Blunt is incredibly captivating, and incredibly bad ass here, and I hope she gets more of an opportunity to be a thinking-man’s action movie femme fatale.  With two solid leads, Edge of Tomorrow surrounds them with brilliant character actors, including a grumpy Brendan Gleeson as the UDF Commander, and a brilliant Bill Paxton, showing us what would’ve happened to Aliens' Hudson had he grown up, as Master Sergeant Farrell.

Minus some issues with the films ending - similar to Cruise’s own War of the Worlds - Edge of Tomorrow is a hell of a great time at the movies. Is it perfect? No. But it’s a high B+. A solid 8/10. A movie that showcases everything the Summer movie season should be about. And hopefully, you can enjoy it just as much as I did. Check it out before it leaves theaters.

Director Peyton Reed Joins 'Ant-Man', Alongside Writer Adam McKay

Direct from Marvel.com:

After a whirlwind, controversy filled two weeks, Marvel has their new creative team for Ant-Man.

Peyton Reed’s an interesting choice. Having helmed mainstream comedies such as Bring It On and Yes Man, he may not be your first pick, but clearly he knows how to satisfy a studio. Looking at his IMDB profile, one can see that Reed has worked on irreverent comedies such as Mr. Show and the Upright Citizens Brigade series.

When mixed with a punched up script by Adam McKay (Anchorman), I have a feeling that even though this won’t be the Ant-Man film we want, this could still be an interesting, comedic diversion for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In a perfect world, Edgar Wright would deliver his superhero film to us next July.

In this less than perfect one, Marvel may have found the way to make lemonade out of this situation. Here’s hoping for the best.

Daily Blast: June 6th, 2014

We’ve got awesome Guardians of the Galaxy posters, news on more Disney live action movies, some pre-E3 gaming announcements, big news on the Ghostbusters 30th Anniversary plans, and even some Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle-inspired pizzas in today’s Daily Blast.

Prep your eyeballs! There’s a lot of awesome to take in!

- The new poster for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is really wonderful.

  • Following in the footsteps of Maleficent and next year’s Cinderella, Disney’s now planning a live-action Beauty and the Beast with director Bill Condon (Gods and Monsters).

  • Everyone seems to have forgotten how great The Other Guys was. Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell haven’t forgotten, they’re looking to re-team in a new film together, called Daddy’s Home.

  • IMAX is big business, I guess - not only will Jurassic World, Fast & Furious 7, and Warcraft among others now come out for the large format theaters, but Paramount’s now planning an IMAX re-release of Forrest Gump to celebrate that film’s 20th Anniversary. You now feel old.

  • Speaking of re-issues, Ghostbusters 2 will finally hit Blu-Ray this September in a special set of both the first and second films, celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the franchise. If you wish to catch the first film one more time in theaters, you’ll get a chance when Ghostbusters returns to 700 theaters on August 29th.
  • Fans of the RPG/FPS hybrid Borderlands have a LOT to be excited for this Fall! Gearbox Software has officially dated Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (appropriately, a prequel to the first two games) for October 14th. Expect it on 360, PS3 and PC.

  • One time major Xbox One exclusive Dead Rising 3 will hit PCs this Summer.

  • OBJECTION! Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy HD for the Nintendo 3DS is finally coming to the US this Winter. However, this remix of the amazing DS games will be a downloadable only title here in the States.
  • Ever want to make the pizzas the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ate in real life? Foodbeast went crazy and made 24 of them, and somehow lived to tell the tale. Check this out if just for the photos.
  • I guess we’re all Guardians-crazy. Word is orders for Rocket Raccoon #1 have exceeded 300,000 copies. To give an idea of scale, the top selling comic each month normally sells in the 100,000 range.

  • Comic art team Udon will be celebrating 10 years of video game collaboration with a very special art book this Summer. The Art of Capcom: Complete Edition is sure to be 600+ pages of pretties.
  • Early 2000’s blogs are stoked! New albums by Interpol AND Spoon are due out this year! Time to get moody and steal these albums off of Kazaa!

  • Speaking of old favorites, Weezer is leaking snippets of their new album in some weird ass YouTube videos. Sounding pretty good, if I do say so myself.

  • An old music hat trick today, as Axl Rose of Guns ‘n Roses is claiming that we will see Chinese Democracy 2 soon! Whatever Axl. Keep telling yourself that.

  • UK Band Los Campesinos! dropped an awesome new track, “Little Mouth” - recorded for the film Benny and Jolene, go give it a spin.

That’s it for today’s Daily Blast! Hope you enjoyed! Let us know what you think in the comments!

Daily Blast: June 5th, 2014

Thought I’d try a new idea here - giving you a maximum amount of awesome geeky stories in one bite-sized article. Let me know what you think in the comments!

In today’s Daily Blast - The Star Wars franchise gets even bigger! Batman fans are going to be bummed! And get ready for the most adorable version of Breaking Bad ever conceived!

- Director JJ Abrams took to Twitter to scold those sites posting photos from the set of Star Wars: Episode VII (pictured at the top of the post), while making a tongue-in-cheek reveal of his own.

  • The Episode VII cast got even bigger and better, with the additions of Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years A Slave) and Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones)

-Another stand alone Star Wars film was given a director - Josh Trank, of Chronicle and the soon-to-film Fantastic Four reboot!

While Marvel Studios still hasn’t settled on an Ant Man director yet, that hasn’t stopped them from making moves on other films.

-It’s all been confirmed that Josh Brolin (No Country For Old Men) will be playing Thanos both in Guardians of the Galaxy and a forthcoming Avengers sequel.

-The long awaited Doctor Strange movie got closer to reality, with the appointment of director Scott Derrickson (Sinister) and a strong rumor that Jared Leto is being asked to play the Sorcerer Supreme.

And in other news…

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- Hercules continues to look like the guilty pleasure of the Summer, with its new trailer, above. The movie hits on July 25th.

- If you were looking forward to Jupiter Ascending, the next sci-fi film from the Wachowski’s, bad news - it just got pushed until February 2015.

  • Gaming fans, get excited - Sony’s apparently ready to move forward with a Metal Gear Solid movie, with director Jordan Vogt-Roberts (The Kings of Summer) in discussions to take on the movie. What’s with all these indie directors jumping right up to big budget blockbusters?

WB Games and NetherRealm Studios officially announced Mortal Kombat X in 2015, for PS4, Xbox One, PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. The first trailer (above) looks pretty rad.

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Well, this is a bummer. WB Games also announced that Batman: Arkham Knight was being pushed from its Fall 2014 release date into 2015. But hey, we have a cool new look at the Batmobile, so that should hold us for a bit…right? But wait, what’s with all the guns?

In addition to working on a new album, the Foo Fighters have been working on a documentary series about the making of it. It will premiere on HBO this Fall, and the first look at the show - called Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways - is above.

LEGO has announced a really rad looking MINI Cooper set for this August. Designed for the adult collectors, it’s a bit pricey, but it turned out great!

Yeah bitch! Funko has announced Breaking Bad as the next television series to get the POP! Vinyl Treatment. Is this the first POP! Vinyl in its underwear?

That ends this first edition of your Daily Blast - again, let us know what you think! We’ll be back tomorrow with another edition, and drop any major breaking news as it happens!

Your Latest 'Ant Man' Updates

The last minute change in directors last week for Marvel Studios’ Ant Man turned into quite a mess over the weekend as the list of directors was narrowed to three - then one - and then back to zero again.

In the wake of director Edgar Wright (The World’s End) pulling out due to “creative differences”,  The Hollywood Reporter issued a short list late on Friday of the possible new director candidates.

The choices - mixed in quality, but all with a comedic focus, were as follows:

Fans became excited on Saturday as word from Ain’t It Cool News was that Adam McKay was the man, and the decision was all but made when, suddenly, on Saturday afternoon, McKay announced that he was out of the running.

On his Twitter, he wrote:

— Adam McKay (@GhostPanther) May 31, 2014

So now we’re back to square one. If Marvel is still looking at Fleischer or Thurber, my personal pick would be Fleischer, as he showed in Zombieland a deft hand for mixing action and comedy - but the clock is ticking. The film was supposed to be in front of cameras in a number of weeks, and a serious amount of pre-production is done and ready in Atlanta - who will be the man to fit the big (then small, then big again) shoes for Ant Man?

So, I Guess We're Getting A New 'Mortal Kombat' Game?

Discovered by a poster over at the Xbox One subreddit, provided this is legit (I’m guessing the poster must work for a game store of some type), it looks like we’ll be hearing about a brand new installment of the Mortal Kombat franchise any day now.

Personally, I’d love to see a new MK, the 10th installment in the series. The last one, titled simply Mortal Kombat, was an absolutely fantastic game, which did a wonderful job of melding generations of the franchise in one great fighter.  Of particular note, was the great story mode, which was further improved in last year’s great Injustice DC Comics fighting game.

If I had to put money down, I’d say we’ll hear more about this at E3 next month - which runs June 10-12.

Director Colin Trevorrow Discusses 'Jurassic World'

Here at Blast-O-Rama, we’re not a big fan of discussing rumors unless they have some serious credibility - hence why you haven’t heard too much from us in relation to Jurassic World, the new movie in the Jurassic Park series currently filming.

There have been a significant number of leaks and rumors coming from the set, and to set the record straight, Slashfilm sat down and had an exclusive interview with the film’s director, Colin Trevorrow (Safety Not Guaranteed).

Trevorrow goes rather in-depth on the film, so massive spoiler alerts for those who intend to read the full article, but it proposes an interesting take on the Jurassic Park franchise.

Set once again at Isla Nubar, the Park itself has become rather ho-hum, and the movie tries to focus on how such a park would actually work - and how it would be received in the era of social media. Of course, things will go awry, and the movie will feature the dinosaur mayhem we know and love, but I really like the fresh, modern take on the Park and those who may go to it.

If you’re willing to learn a little more than expected about the film, I highly recommend the read.

Jurassic World is set to hit theaters on June 12, 2015.

 

'All-New X-Men' To Get A Surprise New Teammate

Arguably one of the hottest book at Marvel Comics right now is All-New X-Men.

Written by superstar writer Brian Michael Bendis (Ultimate Spider-Man), the series has become a linchpin of his take over of the X-Men universe, and shockingly, he’s made the concept - a terrible on-paper idea of bringing the original X-Men to the present from the past - incredibly readable, and even enjoyable.  Simply put, it’s a great read every month.

Well, in the forthcoming issue #32, due out this September, Bendis is giving us quite the surprise.

The above cover was posted on his Tumblr just before the holiday weekend, with a brief note saying “this is real!”

For those unawares - the character in the center is Miles Morales. He’s currently Spider-Man in the “Ultimate” Marvel Universe, which serves as an alternate reality to the “proper” Marvel Universe, one with a different - and less bogged down - continuity.

Unless this is a swerve, this would mark the first time that Morales appears in the Marvel Universe proper.

By the way - got to love how they referenced a classic X-Men cover here…

Cult Classic 'Wet Hot American Summer' To Return With Netflix Prequel

If you haven’t seen the 2001 cult comedy classic Wet Hot American Summer, you should go and fix that.

Here, I’ll wait.

Great, right?

Well, guess what? 12 years later, creators David Wain and Michael Showalter are said to be in talks with Netflix about bringing back the summer camp comedy with a 10 episode prequel series.

No word on an intended release date or the plot, but given the amazing cast that the film featured (including Bradley Cooper, Amy Poehler, Elizabeth Banks, Michael Ian Black, Paul Rudd, Janeane Garofalo and others), this could be an absolutely amazing show.

We’ll keep you updated as we learn more.

#FastFoodArmsRace: 7-Eleven Now Courting The Hipster Market with New Cups and Straws

I was wondering why there weren’t any movie based Slurpee cups this Summer.

Now I know why - 7-Eleven no longer wants movie fans, they instead want the hipster vote.

At least that’s what I assume by their new series of collectors cups and straws. The cup - a faux plastic mason jar. The straws - based on mustaches.

I feel like something just jumped a shark somewhere.

Here’s the full press release, direct from 7-Eleven. It’s kinda cringe-worthy.

Dallas (May 12, 2014) — It was only a matter of time. They’re seemingly everywhere — on party supplies, clothing, jewelry, candy, decals, at stache bashes, in party photo booths, even on cars and baby pacifiers.

Now, mustaches are on Slurpee® drink straws too, the perfect accompaniment to this summer’s new, novelty Slurpee cup — a 26-ounce refillable, plastic Mason jar mug. Both on-trend Slurpee accessories, sold separately, are made for summer fun and available exclusively at participating 7-Eleven® stores.

Retailing for 99 cents, the mustache straw comes in four styles and colors. The suggested retail price for the clear Mason jar mug with a colorful screw-top lid, reusable straw (sans mustache) and Slurpee logo is $2.99. The retro-like cup also comes in four colors — blue, green, orange or pink. The first Slurpee comes free with purchase of the Mason jar mug, and refills are discounted.

“Slurpee-lovers of all ages will have fun sporting their favorite stache straw with a mason jar mug, and enjoying a Slurpee drink is all about fun and flavor,“ said Laura Gordon, 7-Eleven vice president of brand innovation and marketing. “While everyone loves Slurpee drinks year-round, summertime is definitely Slurpee season. I suspect we will see lots of Slurpee mustache photos on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter (@slurpee or @7eleven).

“People in our office have unofficially named the four mustache styles,“ Gordon said. “The British, the handlebar, the Hogan after wrestler Hulk Hogan, and the Swanson, as in Ron Swanson, a character on NBC’s “Parks and Recreation" sit-com series played by Nick Offerman. I think it will be interesting to see which mustaches sell best. Of course, people can buy all four to match their Slurpee moods or if they want to slurp incognito.“

Colorful, tongue-in-cheek 7-Eleven billboards in select markets feature a costumed man and animals sporting Slurpee staches. The mustache straws and Mason jar mugs will be available at participating 7-Eleven stores during the summer while supplies last.

Charlie Cox IS 'Daredevil' in Marvel Studios Netflix Debut!

Fresh off the wire, Marvel Studios has confirmed the lead of their first of five television series produced to air on the streaming service Netflix.

Charlie Cox of Boardwalk Empire fame will star as Matt Murdock, better known as the Man Without Fear, Daredevil in the Daredevil series, due to premiere in 2015.

Set to run 13 episodes, Daredevil was another Marvel Studios project that encountered personnel issues over the weekend, but by announcing cast members, one can assume that business is back to usual.

Daredevil will be the first of four series - including Luke Cage, Jessica Jones and Iron Fist - which will culminate in an event called The Defenders. All five series will air exclusively on Netflix.

Pixar Gives Details On Its Next Film, 'Inside Out'

After creative snafu’s delayed Pixar’s The Good Dinosaur into November 2015 (with a new director), 2014 became the first year since 2005 without a new film from the computer animation giants.

2015 looks to redeem the studio, with not just one - but two - films hitting that year.

The first to hit will be June 2015’s Inside Out. Once known as The Untitled Pixar Movie That Takes You Inside the Mind, Inside Out is the return of Pete Docter (Up, Monsters Inc.) to the director’s chair.

The movie has mostly been under wraps - minus a well received showing at the D23 Fan Expo last summer - but an update to Pixar’s website gives us a proper plot for the film. Certainly sounds interesting. Check it out:

Growing up can be a bumpy road, and it’s no exception for Riley, who is uprooted from her Midwest life when her father starts a new job in San Francisco. Like all of us, Riley is guided by her emotions — Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith). The emotions live in Headquarters, the control center inside Riley’s mind, where they help advise her through everyday life. As Riley and her emotions struggle to adjust to a new life in San Francisco, turmoil ensues in Headquarters. Although Joy, Riley’s main and most important emotion, tries to keep things positive, the emotions conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house and school. Inside Out hits theaters on June 19, 2015.

Batman Builds Beyond The Stars in 'LEGO Batman 3' First-Look

In a pitch so surreal that it could only come from the wild imagination of a child playing with LEGO (appropriately enough), LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham has been announced by WB Games for a Fall 2014 release.

Featuring a whopping 150 characters from the DC Universe (including ‘big figures’, a’la LEGO Marvel, to more accurately represent characters such as Killer Croc), LEGO Batman 3 sends Batman and the Justice League into space to battle Braniac and the rest of the DC Comics baddies.

Characters will be able to use unique suit upgrades, such as the Bat-Space suit you see on the cover art above, and if the announcement trailer below is any indication, this will be a real blast, when it comes to pretty much every video game system ever (PS3, PS4, X360, Xbone, Wii U, 3DS, Vita and PC) later this year.  I personally missed out on LEGO Batman 2 and will not miss another Bat-Brick adventure!

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LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham hits shelves in the Fall.

Gareth Edwards To Helm New 'Star Wars' Film, Set For 2016

I had a feeling that the massive opening weekend of Godzilla was going to open doors for director Gareth Edwards, but I’m not sure I expected this.

Announced Thursday evening over at StarWars.com, Edwards will direct one of the forthcoming Star Wars films, set for release in December 2016.

Joined by ex-video game journalist and screenwritter Gary Whitta (The Book of Eli), the film is assumed by most to be one of the “origin” films, rumored to star Boba Fett, Yoda or Han Solo.  These movies are a part of Disney’s “new Star Wars every year” plan, which has a movie set in the universe releasing in the years where a proper “Episode” is not. (ex. Episode VII in 2015, this film in 2016, Episode VIII in 2017, and so on).

Here’s the full text of the press release. No pressure, Gareth, it’s only your THIRD movie.

Gareth Edwards blazed into the filmmaking forefront with his acclaimed work on Monsters, a film he wrote, directed and served on as cinematographer and visual effects artist. The skill and vision readily apparent in Monsters earned him the high-profile spot directing this year’s smash hit Godzilla.

“Ever since I saw Star Wars I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life – join the Rebel Alliance! I could not be more excited and honored to go on this mission with Lucasfilm,” said Edwards.

Gary Whitta’s screenwriting credits include 2010’s The Book of Eli starring Denzel Washington. He is also well known as a journalist and editor in the video game industry, as well as part of the BAFTA award-winning team on Telltale Games adaptation of The Walking Dead.

Whitta states, “From the moment I first saw the original movie as a wide-eyed kid, Star Wars has been the single most profound inspiration to my imagination and to my career as a writer. It is deeply special to me,so to be given the opportunity to contribute to its ongoing legacy, especially in collaboration with a film-maker as talented as Gareth, is literally a dream come true. I’m still pinching myself."

Director Edgar Wright Leaves Marvel's 'Ant-Man'

Smartly revealed to the press just before the long holiday weekend, Marvel Studios has announced the unfortunate news that innovative director Edgar Wright (The World’s End) has left the production of the 2015 release, Ant-Man.

Wright has been working on the film since 2006, long before Marvel Studios became what it is today, and with the film literally being weeks before shooting, this announcement was completely unexpected. Here’s the full text from Marvel Studios' press release:

The big question people are asking is why? Rumors have flooded the web, including that the movie was behind schedule/over budget, and that Disney brass stepped in to revise the script, without input from Wright or co-writer Joe Cornish (Attack the Block). But perhaps the best perspective came from director James Gunn.

Like Wright, Gunn has an incredibly unique sensibility as a director, and as he finishes his greatly anticipated Marvel Studios film Guardians of the Galaxy, I’d say it’s his word we can take best. From his Facebook, he wrote:

It’s easy to try to make one party “right” and another party “wrong” when a breakup happens, but it often isn’t that simple. Or perhaps it’s even more simple than that - not everyone belongs in a relationship together. It doesn’t mean they’re not wonderful people.

And that’s true of both Edgar Wright and Marvel. One of them isn’t a person, but I think you get what I mean. Movies go through this sort of thing all of the time, and the results have been both good and bad. Thor: The Dark World moved from Patty Jenkins directing to Alan Taylor (worked out OK), X-Men: The Last Stand moved from Bryan Singer to Matthew Vaughn to Brett Ratner (did not end well), and Pixar movies go through this sort of thing all of the time - most notably with Ratatouille, which is arguably one of their finest films.

The fact is - something did not work out well for all parties. But this does not mean that Ant-Man will be bad, or that Edgar Wright is screwed, or that Marvel or Disney is evil. It just means that no one was happy.

Ant-Man will release in July 2015, and we’ll probably still end up excited for it. The script and pre-vis are mostly locked in, so there will undoubtedly be Wright-esque. Edgar Wright will go on to make incredible films. The Marvel Cinematic Universe will roll on.

And in the meantime, perhaps we should take a stand like Marvel Cinematic Architect, Joss Whedon (The Avengers), and just stand united.

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014): A Review

The most remarkable thing about X-Men: Days of Future Past is that it works.

The culmination of 14 years, 7 movies and an almost insurmountable number of continuity issues, this latest mutant adventure takes the smart approach by - well - ignoring most of them.

Directed by Bryan Singer (his first X-Men film since X2: X-Men United in 2003), this movie attempts to go the Avengers route by mashing up the two disparate X-Men movie universes - the original trilogy, which started in 2000’s X-Men (anchored by Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen, Professor X and Magneto, respectively) and the new prequel universe, launched in 2011’s X-Men: First Class (anchored by James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender as Professor X and Magneto).  How they get there is a matter of ridiculous time travel, the type that only comic books, and now, comic book movies, could accept with a straight face. Take a deep breath, it’s a lot to take in.

Here’s the premise: it’s sometime around (roughly) 2025 - the X-Men we came to know and love in the original trilogy have their backs up against the wall. Mutants - and human sympathizers - have been systematically killed off by mutant hunting robots, called Sentinels, and only a loose rag tag bunch of X-Men remain as the final force against pure mutant elimination. This group of X-Men, co-lead by life-long enemies Professor Xavier and Magneto, includes such mutants as Iceman, Kitty Pride, Storm, and the ageless Wolverine (plus some newbies, like obscure fan favorites such as Bishop and Blink).  Apparently, at some point, Kitty Pride gained the ability to send ones consciousness into the past. This ability has been used to send mutants “back” hours, or days, at a time to prep for Sentinel onslaughts, but Xavier and Magneto have a bigger plan - send someone back to when it all started - 1973.

Apparently, in 1973, Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) assassinated Sentinel inventor Bolivar Trask (Peter Dinklage), and his murder set off the production of these Sentinels, leading to decades of death and destruction. So - now they need to send someone back to the 70’s to end this before it happens - and who better to send back than the man who’s outlived them all, Wolverine (Hugh Jackman, in his seventh appearance as the character).

Ultimately, the toughest decision of how to mix these films would be in the execution - writer Simon Kinberg had no easy choice in figuring out the path to go - this film could easily be seen as X-Men 4, First Class 2 or even Wolverine 3 - and thankfully, they decided to follow the freshest path, making Days of Future Past a proper sequel to the breath of fresh air known as X-Men: First Class.

Much how First Class did a fantastic job bringing the X-Men to the 1960’s, with a clear spy influence (and James McAvoy’s fantastic “mutant swinger” take on a young Xavier), Days of Future Past brings the younger X-Men cast into the darker 1970’s. We’re in a post Vietnam world, Xavier is strung-out on a drug that allows him to walk again (but subdues his power), and many of the X-Men in training were killed, or lost to the Vietnam war.

The movie focuses mostly on a core cast of McAvoy’s Xavier, Fassbender’s Magneto, Jackman as Wolverine, Jennifer Lawrence’s Mystique, Dinklage as Trask and…weirdly, Nicholas Hoult’s Beast. Even with as many of the continuity questions that will leave the nerds rambling (I can’t wait to see the insufferable “Movie Mistakes” video that comes out of this), the movie never feels slow or bogged down by the size of its ambition. Instead, X-Men: Days of Future Past focuses on what always made X-Men such a fun comic to read - the drama of the interaction between its characters.  There’s loss of unspoken love, death, destruction, betrayal and confusion here, and it’s absolutely riveting.

That isn’t to say that the movie is without action - the Sentinels, both in their 1970’s and 2020’s forms - are remarkable forces of destruction, and the future in particular is home to some great action sequences - you can tell the filmmakers had particular joy with Blink’s Portal-esq teleporting ability. That said, it speaks volumes that some of the most engrossing work involves character moments between McAvoy, Fassbender and Lawrence. I realize, with two Oscar nominated actors (one winner!) in the mix, that shouldn’t be surprising, but in an era of summer movies filled with city leveling destruction, I applaud the restraint.

The biggest surprise of the film, however? Quicksilver (Evan Peters). Understandably maligned prior to the release of the movie, due to his costuming and the “me too!” nature of his addition, post Avengers 2 announcements, the X-Men version of the mutant speedster is an absolute joy to watch. Less is definitely more with this character, as he ultimately only appears in one major sequence in the film, but his moments are memorable and long lasting. Joss Whedon and crew have a lot to live up to with their version of the character now, and I never thought I’d be saying that. This version of Quicksilver will have everyone talking when they leave the theater.

X-Men: Days of Future Past is a movie that could have been crushed by the scope of its ambition, but by drawing back the urges to make a superhero film that could be lumped into the rest, and standing on the shoulders of its incredibly talented cast, it ends up as an absolute success - in the most unexpected ways. I hope we get to see the McAvoy/Fassbender/Lawrence grouping lead this franchise for years to come. A very high recommendation.

POST CREDIT NOTES: There is indeed a post-credits scene in X-Men: Days of Future Past, and you’ll have to wait through the full credits to get it. No “mid-credit” nonsense here.

A Boy and His Bot: First 'Big Hero 6' Trailer Released

www.youtube.com/watch

Based off of the obscure Marvel Comics series of the same name, Big Hero 6 is Walt Disney Animation’s big film for the Holiday Season.

The first teaser hit the web today, and it’s closer to an Ice Age style teaser, in that it’s almost a mini-movie in and of itself. But it gives you a good idea of the relationship between protagonist Hiro and his robot, Baymax.

I don’t know about you, but I now want to hug Baymax.

Big Hero 6 releases on November 7.

Funko Announces Guardians of the Galaxy Mystery Minis!

Just posted over at Action Figure Insider, the vinyl heads at Funko will mark the release of this August’s big new Marvel Studios movie Guardians of the Galaxy with a line of mystery minis!

The blind box figure line includes versions of Star Lord, Drax, Gamora, Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Ronan the Accuser, and Nebula.  The figures are equally packed, so your chance of getting any one figure is the same as everything else.

Look for these in July - I’m thinking my desk could use a Rocket and Groot, personally.

A Fantastic First Look at 'Life Itself', A Documentary of the Life of Roger Ebert

www.youtube.com/watch

Sharing the title of his fantastic autobiography, Life Itself, this forthcoming documentary takes a look at the life and times of arguably the greatest writer about film of all time - Roger Ebert.

The late Ebert passed just over a year ago, and to this day, I think everyone who writes about film owes him a huge debt. I certainly feel his influence when I write about movies, as I try to bring my enthusiasm to the written word, as he so eloquently and effortlessly did over the decades.

Life Itself hits theaters and VOD later this Summer, and will also be broadcast on CNN. I’ll definitely be checking it out.

#FastFoodArmsRace: Oreo and Reese's Make A Baby For Your Mouth

Sorry, the headline was creepy enough I had to use it…

Anyway, The Impulsive Buy set my Summer 2014 yesterday with their post about the forthcoming availability of yet another limited edition Oreo flavor.

Following in the footsteps of such varieties as Cookie Dough, Sherbet and Watermelon, this Summer, Nabisco will release a run of limited edition Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup flavored Oreos.

As I proposed on Twitter yesterday, I fully intend to set aside a Saturday this summer to laying in a kiddie pool and eating an entire container of these little circles of heaven.

Bill Hader To Create & Star In New HBO Show

Ultimately, I could post the headline and be done, as that’s about all we know at this time.  Deadline.com had the scoop last night, as the SNL alum has officially signed to develop and star in his own show for the network.

The format, the plot, the title, really anything besides “he signed to do a thing” are unknown at this time - but given Bill Hader’s fantastic track record of quality work so far, I’m in from jump street.

Maybe it’ll just be an hour every week of his Alan Alda.

'Batman vs. Superman' Officially Titled...

Coming straight from Warner Bros -  get ready for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Logo and all.

Here’s the press release:

Principal photography is underway in Metro Detroit, Michigan

BURBANK, CA, May 21, 2014 — Filming is underway on Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,“ the highly anticipated action adventure from director Zack Snyder, starring Henry Cavill in the role of Clark Kent/Superman, and Ben Affleck as BruceWayne/Batman.

“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" also stars Gal Gadot as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, with Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane returning from “Man of Steel,“ Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor, Jeremy Irons as Alfred, and Holly Hunter in a role newly created for the film.

“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice"is written by Chris Terrio, from a screenplay by David S. Goyer. Charles Roven and Deborah Snyder are producing, with Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan, Wesley Coller, David S. Goyer and Geoff Johns serving as executive producers.

Principal photography will take place on location at Michigan Motion Picture Studios and on location in and around Detroit, Michigan; Illinois; Africa; and the South Pacific.

Set to open worldwide on May 6, 2016, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" is based on Superman characters created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster, Batman characters created by Bob Kane, and Wonder Woman created by William Moulton Marston, appearing in comic books published by DC Entertainment.

http://batmanvsupermandawnofjustice.com

Marvel Comics Officially Announces 'Axis' Event

Rumored and hinted toward at a number of conventions, Marvel Comics has officially confirmed the major Axis event for this Fall.

To be written by Rick Remainder, details are sketchy, but based on the first piece of key art (by Jim Cheung) and the fact that it’s to involve both the X-Men and the Avengers, I feel like this would spin out of Remainders current run on Uncanny Avengers.

All I know is, as a comics kid of the 1990s, seeing Red Skull in the Onslaught outfit has me FAR too happy.